The Equiano Revolution: In line with President Faure Gnassingbe’s will to make Togo a tech hub, Google has made the first landing of a new undersea internet cable connected to Europe, in what the tech giant and the Togolese government have hailed as a “major digital infrastructure transformation initiative”. This initiative will provide the country with high speed and affordable internet access. Google said the cable will indirectly create 37,000 jobs in Togo by 2025 and boost GDP by $193 million.
Equiano cable, named after Nigerian-born writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano, would create improved high-speed and affordable internet access for millions of people in Togo and in West Africa.
Google also affirmed that the project would spread through Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa, with possible branches offering connections to nearby countries.
Announcing the project, Alphabet’s (parent company of Google) CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned a five-year $1bn investment to support “a range of initiatives from improved connectivity to investment in startups” across the African continent.
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About Togo’s Internet Infrastructure
In 2020, Togo became the first country in West Africa to launch a 5G network. It is therefore fitting that Togo is the first country in Africa to be Part of Google’s $1 billion programme to build digital capacity and provide cheaper access to users of the Internet across the continent.
According to World Bank, internet penetration in Togo has almost tripled, from about 7 percent in 2017 to about 20 percent in 2020.
How Equiano Will Be Managed
Equiano is to be managed and maintained by CSquared, an international open-access wholesale broadband infrastructure company, and Societe d’Infrastructure Numeriques (SIN), a public telecommunications asset company.
Nitin Gajria, Managing Director of Google Sub-Saharan Africa said, “The landing of Equiano affirms Google’s commitment to the African continent, to support Africa’s digital transformation. We are thrilled that Togo will be Equiano’s first landing on the African continent, as it aligns with the country’s continuing efforts to promote digital inclusion for Africa. We look forward to working closely with the Togolese Government and The Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation as they continue to build their digital infrastructure.”
Lanre Kolade, Group Chief Executive Officer of CSquared shared, “CSquared is honored to be part of Togo’s Digital Strategy, a strategy focused on social inclusion and economic development that will transform the economy with accessible, safe, and affordable broadband, across gender, and geography.
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CSquared Woezon, our joint venture with Société d’Infrastructures Numériques [SIN] will put in place the next generation of connected infrastructure on which the digital ecosystem, the economy and the government can ride. Beyond the landing of Google’s Equiano in Togo, the JV will also manage and rollout Fiber Metros and National Backbone across the country, moving Togo forward on its quest to become a digital hub in West Africa with connectivity into neighboring countries, Ghana, Benin, and Burkina Faso.”
What The Deployment of Equiano Means For Togo
Also commenting on the landing of Equiano, H.E. Madam Cina Lawson, Minister of Digital Economy and Digital Transformation for Togo stated that “Broadening the access to high-speed internet is a fundamental part in our national digital development process as we strive towards achieving the objectives set out in our Digital 2025 Strategy.
As Togo continues to earn its place on the regional and international stage as a digital hub and a favorable ecosystem for innovation and investment, our collaboration with Google and CSquared in successfully landing Equiano further demonstrates Togo’s commitment to enhancing public and social services for all citizens so that they can benefit economically.”
Attia Byll, Managing Director of SIN stated, “SIN represents a significant tool for the digital development plan of the Togolese territory. Our strategy is to operate and grow through public private partnerships and create joint ventures with investors in order to achieve that goal. We are thrilled by the opportunities that this partnership with CSquared and Google will bring to the people of Togo and the country as a whole.”
According to an economic impact assessment carried out by Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics, it is estimated that the subsea cable will add approximately 37,000 new jobs between 2022 and 2025, and increase Togo’s economic output by an additional USD 351 million during the same period.
