U.S. tech giant Google plans to set up four infrastructure hubs in Africa to connect its new submarine fiber-optic cables and improve Internet access, announced the company’s Managing Director for Africa, Alex Okosi.
“We plan to create four infrastructure hubs in Africa to connect our latest submarine fiber-optic cables. These cables must be routed to local markets to maximize the opportunities offered to our partners, particularly telecom operators, and to reduce the cost of Internet access,” he explained to Bloomberg TV.
“The hubs will strengthen connectivity and enable us to leverage new opportunities brought by artificial intelligence,” Okosi added, specifying that the funding will come from Google.
He noted that these hubs will connect cables in the north, west, south, and east of Africa, and will include key infrastructure such as landing stations and data centers. As part of this plan, the company intends to link its two new cables, Equiano and Umoja, to the continent this year.
“The four planned hubs should be completed within the next three years and will allow potential partners such as telecom companies MTN Group and Vodacom Group to offer broadband services to their customers at lower costs,” he stated.
