Facebook is working on plans for ‘Simba’, named after the Lion King character, an underwater cable that will circle the continent with landings on multiple coasts.
Google’s underwater cable plans are much further along, as it has confirmed construction plans for a cable connecting Portugal and South Africa.
It’s unclear whether or not Facebook will partner with African telecoms operators, especially for funding while Google’s underwater cable plans, funded by the company itself, first phase due to be completed by 2021.
Google’s new cable, named Equiano, will have 20 times the capacity of the most recent projects laid in the region and will first branch out in Nigeria—Africa’s largest internet market.
Nice idea, but how comes a foreign country (corporation) wants to control the backbone of your internet, the whole of Africa? What do they really want to achieve?
Anyway more options, more cheaper net… I know nothing.