Preparation is currently underway for installation of one of the world’s longest fibre optic communications cables. Survey vessels are circumnavigating the entire coast of Africa determining the best locations for laying the cable on the seabed and bringing it onshore. At around 36,000km long it will provide connectivity to countries throughout the continent and form a critical part of meeting the African Union’s ambition to ensure internet for all by 2030.

Placing it won’t be easy and just like the engineers who placed the first subsea cables in the 1800s, they have to deal with a huge range of challenges ranging from unpredictable weather, to the global COVID19 pandemic. 

Guests

Frédéric Cazeneuve, Project Marine Manager, Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN)

René d’Avezac de Moran, Service Line Manger – Hydrography, Fugro

Cynthia Perret, Programme Manager – Submarine Systems, Facebook

Bastian Wichand, Project Manager, Fugro

Partner

This episode is made in partnership with Fugro. Fugro is the world’s leading geodata specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Through integrated data acquisition, analysis and advice, Fugro unlocks insights from geodata to help clients design, build and operate their assets in a safe, sustainable and efficient manner.

Resources

2Africa Project Website

Connecting Africa through Broadband 

Submarine Cable Map

The post #107 Africa: Connecting a Continent first appeared on Engineering Matters.