A Google-owned undersea cable that promises to double internet speeds for millions of people in Africa arrived in Togo on Friday.
The Equiano cable will double internet speeds for Togo’s 8 million people, Google said in a statement.
The new line will also land in Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa, with possible branches offering connections to neighboring countries. It should start operating by the end of the year.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the least connected region in the world, with around a quarter of the population still without mobile broadband coverage, compared to 7% globally, according to a 2020 report by GSMA Intelligence.
Most West African countries are at the bottom of the World Bank’s global rankings on Internet penetration.
Togo will be the first to benefit. Cable is expected to reduce internet prices by 14% by 2025, according to an Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics assessment commissioned by Google.
Google said the cable will indirectly create 37,000 jobs in Togo by 2025 and increase GDP by $193 million.
