Browsing: Africa Connectivity

EAC Internet prices
  • The World Bank is set to finance a new digital harmonization project across EAC member states.
  • Currently, internet prices in the region range from $4.64 in Kenya to $21.06 in South Sudan.
  • Integrated connectivity is poised to improve regional trade and boost integration efforts.

EAC internet prices vary greatly among East African countries even though the region boasts of being a single, integrated entity, the East African Community (EAC). The  region is, however, taking action to integrate its connectivity, in particular, lowering by seeking to cut present high internet connection fees and improving cyber security as well.

This ambitious goal is set to be achieved through a new World Bank-backed platform, Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP). Funded by the World Bank, the EARDIP is an undertaking under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

To achieve these two basic goals— lower internet and telecommunication fees and improved security— the …

  • Submarine cable systems form the crucial infrastructure at the heart of the global network and internet connectivity. 
  • Seacom, a leading player in the submarine cable systems market, launched Africa’s first broadband submarine cable system in 2009.
  • As Africa navigates digital infrastructure challenges, there’s hope on the horizon with several transformative internet projects poised to reshape the continent’s digital landscape.

The crucial role of submarine cable systems

The Internet is the backbone of modern communication, powering everything from global commerce to personal communications. At the heart of this global network lies a critical infrastructure often unseen and unthought of by the average user: submarine cable systems.

These undersea pathways are vital for international data exchange, carrying over 99 per cent of the world’s telecommunications traffic. A recent incident involving damage to Seacom’s cable in the Red Sea offers a stark reminder of the vulnerability of these underwater lifelines and the …