Cable system spans 6,800km providing higher capacity and increased connectivity between the west coast of Africa, Portugal and beyond.
p>Cable system spans 6,800km providing higher capacity and increased connectivity between the west coast of Africa, Portugal and beyond.
Main One Cable Company and its system supplier, Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications (SubCom), recently announced the completion of the main lay programme by the C.S. Tyco Resolute, and on schedule. Furthermore, the marine installation programme for Phase 1 of the Main One Cable System has also been completed on time. Installation of terminal equipment is complete in Seixal, Portugal, and underway at the system’s landing sites in Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana.
Phase 1 of the Main One Cable System spans 6,800km and will provide much needed capacity between the West Coast of Africa and Portugal. The dual fibre pair, 1.92 Terabit per second, Dense Wave Division Multiplex project will first connect Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana and Seixal, Portugal, with onward connectivity to Europe, Asia and the Americas. Phase 2 of the project is expected to extend to South Africa.
Open access to high-capacity bandwidth
The Main One Cable System will provide open access to regional telecom operators and Internet service providers at rates lower than existing international bandwidth prices in the region. The system will provide broadband capacity to expand Internet access in the sub-Saharan region, as well as ease the difficulties of switching traffic between African countries without the need to go through Europe.
“We are thrilled to say that the challenge of completing the marine work for the Main One Cable System is behind us and that we will soon be able to concentrate on the critical mission of providing high-capacity bandwidth to regions of the globe where it is long overdue,” said Funke Opeke, CEO of Main One Cable Company.
“Since the launch of our alliance in 2008, SubCom has looked forward to completing the Phase 1 marine installation. Completion of the marine programme brings us very close to making the Main One Cable System a reality,” said David Coughlan, president of SubCom. “We consider the work we have done on Main One to be a significant accomplishment and are proud to be associated with this project.”
