Eastern Africa
Submarine Cable System
(EASSy)
CLOSING THE FINAL LINK AROUND
AFRICA
Overview
► Introduction
► Current
Scenario
► The Opportunity
► System Configuration and Global Connectivity
► Potential Investors
► Key features of the proposed System
► Benefits to Africa
► Project Costs
► Project Status
► Planned Project Milestones
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Introduction
► Liberalisation
of the telecommunications
sector has led to evolution of internet,
VOIP, mobile market & integrated network
solutions.
► It is therefore necessary that an
appropriate infrastructure is developed to
carry the rapidly increasing traffic.
► The Eastern Africa Submarine Cable
System has been conceived in this
context.
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
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Current Scenario
► West Africa
covered by SAT-3/WASC & Atlantis-2
► Currently no other cable initiative for East Africa
► Eastern Africa Region exclusively reliant on
Satellite
► Limited satellite capacity, earth station and
terrestrial infrastructure in region
► Increase in demand for intra-regional and global
connectivity, data services and VOIP
► Low demand for telecommunications systems
globally – buyers-market in submarine cable
industry!
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Current Scenario
► NEPAD
has identified and endorsed the East
African cable as a priority project.
► The
proposed East African Submarine Cable will
provide the last link to completely encircle Africa
by high capacity optic fibre telecommunications
networks
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The Opportunity
► Hi
quality broadband international connectivity
reaching Madagascar, Eastern & Southern Africa
► Restoration for EASSy via existing submarine
cables such as SAFE, Sea-Me-We-3, SAT-3
► Access to untapped emerging markets in voice,
mobile and Internet traffic
► Reduce Region’s dependency on Satellite
► Lower network costs at higher bandwidth
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
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Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy)
Zanzibar
Mahajanga
Mtunzini
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
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Malaba
Zanzibar
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
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Global Connectivity
1
2
3
4
SEA ME WE 3
5
6
7
16
23
8
17
9
25
10
22
24
21
20
11
SAT-3/WASC
19
15
14
18
13
12
SAFE
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Strategic Global Coverage
Germany
56 Countries
Portugal
ATLANTIS-2
(6 Countries)
Japan
SEA-ME-WE-3 (35Countries)
Egypt
India
Malaysia
Senegal
EASSy
(11 Countries)
Brazil
SAT-3 / WASC
(11 Countries)
Australia
South
Africa
SAFE
(5 Countries)
Investment Interest
► The
following (11) parties have signed the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the
development of the system:
• Telkom Kenya
 Zanzibar Telecom
 Uganda Telecom
 MTN Uganda
 TDM Mozambique
 Telkom South Africa
 Djibouti Telecom
 Sentech
 Telecom Malagasy
 Rwanda Telecom
 Botswana Telecom
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
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Potential Participants from other
African Countries
Signed LOI &
C&NDA
 Swaziland
 Lesotho
 Ethiopia
Not Signed
LOI&C&NDA
 Zambia
 Zimbabwe
 Eritrea
 Sudan
 Seychelles
 Burundi
 DR Congo
 Somalia
 Comoros
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Potential International Investors
The following International Carriers among
others have shown interest in the project and
their participation is expected in the form of
investment.
• Belgacom – Belgium, BT - UK
• Teleglobe – Canada ,Telenor - Norway
• AT&T & MCI - USA
• France Telecom ,KPN - Netherlands
• Cable & Wireless and Telekom Malaysia
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Key Features of the System
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
The completion of an optic fibre ring around Africa in
conjunction with other optic fibre submarine cable
systems
The first optic fibre connectivity between Eastern Africa
and the global optic fibre network
A superior optic fibre connectivity utilizing Synchronous
Digital Hierarchy, direct Optical Amplification and
Wavelength Division Multiplexing technology
High capacity
Superior quality
Cost-effective alternative transmission medium
Provides excellent diversity and restoration options for
the users
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Configuration
Djibouti
Mogadishu
(Somalia)
Optional Branch
and BU
Mombasa
(Kenya) Repeaterless
Optional link
Zanzibar
(Tanzania) Repeaterless
Optional link
Dar Es Salaam
(Tanzania)
Mahajanga
(Madagascar)
Maputo
(Mozambique)
Mtunzini
(South Africa)
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Technical Description
►
►
System length 8 840 km
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Technology
(DWDM)
► Direct Optical Amplification Technology
► Additional feeder network through repeaterless festoon
systems, if required
► 2 fibre pair system configured as a collapsed ring
► Proposed ultimate capacity per fiber pair
 16 or 32 wavelengths at 10 Gbit/s
 Total capacity of 320 or 640 Gb/s
► Initial equipage: 1 or 2 wavelengths per fiber
► System design life of 25 years.
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Benefits to Africa
►
Improved high capacity optic fibre connectivity within
Africa and the rest of the world.
► Enables new services and products not possible before
due to bandwidth restrictions
► Contributes towards the socio-economic development of
the region
► Reduced unit costs (capital and operational) for global
connectivity, leading to increased profits
► Reduced out payments to foreign telecommunications
(satellite) facility providers.
► Direct routes through own infrastructure obviate the need
for transits through Third Parties - reduced out
payments.
► Expansion in inter-Africa trade, facilitated by better
communication in the region.
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Project Costs
►
►
►
►
Project cost for a system from SA to Djibouti estimated at
US$200 Million
This includes US$170 million for the System Supply and
US$30 million for project management
The above excludes the cable station building and
ancillary services which is estimated at US$2Million
each.
There are planned 8 cable stations at Mtunzini - South
Africa, Mahajanga - Madagascar, Maputo-Mozambique,
Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar –Tanzania, Mombasa –
Kenya, Mogadishu – Somalia and Djibouti – Djibouti.
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Project Status
►
Initial feasibility study completed
► MOU signed by eleven (11) parties.
► Project Management Committee (PMC) and Working
Groups formed.
► PMC chairman and Working Group Team Leaders
appointed.
► Tasks in the next phase are as follows:
 Carrying out detailed feasibility study
 Developing the project financing model
 Drafting of Construction & Maintenance Agreement
 Invitation of tenders for supply of System
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Project Management Committee
Chairman – Telkom Kenya
► Project Secretariat - Telkom Kenya
► Project Coordinator - Zanzibar Telecom
► Commercial &Finance WG Leader - Uganda
Telecom
► Interim Procurement WG Leader – Telkom South
Africa
► Construction &Maintenance Agreement WG
Leader – TDM Mozambique
► Backhaul Coordination WG - NEPAD
► PMC
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Planned Project Milestones
►
Sign MOU
Q4 2003
►
Agree on Configuration
Q2 2004
►
Issue Invitation to Tender
Q3 2004
►
Financial Closing
Q4 2004
►
Sign Supply Contract & C&MA
Q2 2005
►
Cable RFCS
Q4 2006
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Conclusion
The successful implementation of the East African
Submarine Cable System is expected to make
significant contribution to the development and
provision of ICT services and facilitate the intraregional as well as international trade.
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The End
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