Equiano may sound something similar to equator. But it is the name of a famous Nigerian writer, whose full name is Olaudah Equiano and his writings are widely read in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The context in which the name Equiano has propped up is different and is miles away from literary domain. It is the name of a new private subsea cable being laid by Google to connect Portugal and South Africa. To be built by Alcatel Submarine Networks, the cable network will add to the telecommunication pathways to Africa. The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion in 2021. It is the first subsea cable that uses optical switching at the fiber pair level and that way makes it easier to allocate capacity as needed. The new cable can carry 20 times the capacity of the last cable that was built to serve this region. The cable also can be used for branching units to connect lines to other countries. Initially, the cable connects Lagos in Nigeria. When other branches become operational, they will connect other cities and countries. Google does not currently operate any data centers on the African continent unlike its competitors. With the launch of the submarine networks, Google can bring Africa closer to other continents and also qualitative changes in its presence in Africa, which is adjudged as an important digital hub in the making.
