WIOCC lands world’s largest subsea cable system

Pan-African supplier of international connectivity WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company) has claimed to have landed the world’s largest subsea cable system in South Africa.

The arrival of the 45,000km, 180Tbps 2Africa cable system into Amanzimtoti, 25km south of Durban, will bring additional international capacity for internet and support high-speed internet delivery throughout South Africa.

As a gateway to international connectivity, the cable’s landing in Amanzimtoti will also help to drive the upgrade and expansion of telecommunications networks in KZN and surrounding provinces.

This landing, into OADC’s 4MW-capable open access OADC Durban facility in Amanzimtoti, is the first cable landing in the area and is 2Africa’s fourth with two in the Western Cape (Yzerfontein and Duynefontein) and one in the Eastern Cape (Gqeberha).

WIOCC chief executive Officer, Chris Wood, said: “This latest major international cable landing is another example of WIOCC Group playing a key role in building Africa’s digital infrastructure and accelerating the continent’s digital transformation through the delivery of converged open digital infrastructure.

“We are pleased to be working with our partners in the 2Africa project, bringing faster, more reliable internet to local businesses and consumers, and making an enduring contribution to communications in Africa. The subsea cable system is enabling more communities to access transformative online resources, from education and healthcare to jobs and financial services, and experience the economic and social benefits of seamless connectivity.”

A recent study by RTI International predicts that within two to three years of becoming operational, 2Africa will spur economic impact worth up to $36.9bn through carrier-neutral international connectivity. The 2Africa project underpins further growth of 4G, the continued roll-out of 5G and fixed broadband access, by providing improved connectivity to underserved and rural areas; and network resilience between KZN and the rest of South Africa.Pan-African supplier of international connectivity WIOCC (