Google and its cable landing partner, West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) on Thursday launched the landing of a state-of-the-art Equiano subsea cable in Lagos which could boost connectivity and create 1.6 million jobs in three years.
The subsea cable connects Portugal and South Africa, running along the West Coast of Africa just as the first branch will land in Nigeria in a few days.
Last month, Equiano subsea cable made its first landing in Africa in Lomé, Togo. Equiano is the third private international cable owned by Google and the 14th subsea cable invested by Google.
A recent study by Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics shows Equiano will boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $10.1 billion by 2025, create 1.6 million jobs by 2025, among others.
The Equiano cable is named after a Nigerian-born writer and anti-slavery activities, Olaudah Equiano, who survived enslavement in the 18th century.
At the virtual launch of the cable landing at Ikate-Lekki in Lagos, Director, West Africa at Google, Juliet Ehimuan, said Equiano will provide 20 times more network capacity than the last cable built to serve the region.
Chief Executive Officer of West Indian Ocean (WIOCC), Chris Wood said the network will go live in phases from June and continuing through to the end of the year.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the launch, commended Google, WIOCC and other investors for identifying with his administration’s vision for a truly 21st century Lagos and a megacity.