Google on Thursday announced a new investments in digital infrastructure and security initiatives designed to increase digital connectivity, accelerate economic growth, and deepen resilience across Africa.
Brian Quigley, Vice President (VP) Global Network Infrastructure, Google Cloud said in a blog post that one of the investments is the Umoja, a new fiber optic cable connecting Africa to Australia.
Quigley said it would also expanded cybersecurity collaboration with Kenya, furthering its commitment to Africa’s digital transformation.
Hr said that expanding connectivity in Africa with Umoja would help increase the reach and reliability of digital connectivity for Africa.
According to him, today Google is announcing Umoja, the first ever fiber optic route to directly connect Africa with Australia.
He said that anchored in Kenya, the Umoja cable route would pass through Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, including the Google Cloud region, before crossing the Indian Ocean to Australia.
‘’Umoja’s terrestrial path was built in collaboration with Liquid Technologies to form a highly scalable route through Africa, including access points that will allow other countries to take advantage of the network.
‘’Umoja, which is the Swahili word for unity, joins Equiano in an initiative called Africa Connect.
‘’Umoja will enable African countries to more reliably connect with each other and the rest of the world,’’ he said.
According to him, establishing a new route distinct from existing connectivity routes is critical to maintaining a resilient network for a region that has historically experienced high-impact outages.
Quigley said that Google is grateful for the partnership from leaders across Africa and Australia to deliver Africa Connect to people, businesses, and governments in Africa and around the wold.
The VP said in addition to the infrastructure announcement, Google would sign a statement of collaboration with Kenya’s Ministry of Information Communications and The Digital Economy.
He said that it is to accelerate joint efforts in cybersecurity, growing data-driven innovation, digital upskilling, and responsibly and safely deploying AI for societal benefits.
Quigley said that Google has long recognised the critical role investments in secure technology infrastructure have on connecting communities, expanding education, and driving healthy economic development within Africa and around the world.
According to him, since Google opened the first Sub-Saharan Africa office in Nairobi in 2007 it has partnered with governments from countries across Africa on numerous digital initiatives.
‘’In 2021, we committed to invest $1 billion in Africa over five years to support a range of efforts, from improved connectivity to investment in startups, to help boost Africa’s digital transformation’’.
Quigley said that since then Google has invested more than $900 million in the region and expect to fulfil its commitment by 2026.
He said the collaboration introduced is the latest step towards delivering on Google broader commitment to support Africa’s digital transformation, continued economic growth, and innovation.
According to him, supporting economic growth between 2021 and 2023, third party estimates show that Google’s products and services provided more than $30bn of economic activity across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The VP said that Africa’s internet economy has the potential to grow to $180bn by 2025, that is 5.2 per cent of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) according to a report by the International Finance Corporation.
‘’Investments like Umoja, coupled with developing talent that can benefit from, add to this growing digital economy will help ensure citizens access government services and critical information.
”While enabling businesses to thrive and generate durable economic growth for the local economy’’.
Quigley said that Google is as committed as ever to partnering with communities, businesses, and governments in Africa to help foster even more innovation across the continent, and excited about this next chapter for Kenya and the region.
The 2022, Google announced the landing of the second subsea cable in Nigeria Olaudah Equiano to improve internet connectivity and for job creation.