Satellite Networks

WACS launch will boost capacity – and connectivity – in South Africa

With the launch of the West African Cable System (WACS) – an ultra high-capacity 14,500km-long system connecting eleven African countries to the UK and Portugal – South Africa’s international broadband capacity has grown by 40%...

With the launch of the West African Cable System (WACS) – an ultra high-capacity 14,500km-long system connecting eleven African countries to the UK and Portugal – South Africa’s international broadband capacity has grown by 40%. 

According to the Department of Communications, only around 2% of South Africans have access to fixed-line broadband, whereas 17% access broadband via smartphones.  The link between Internet penetration and GDP growth is well-established, which is why economic growth and job creation hinge on seeing a step change in data connectivity. 

The challenge from the fixed-line perspective is that less than 10% of the population has access to a telephone line.  On the other hand, with virtually 100% of the population having mobile phone coverage, only a few more things need to fall in place to make that step change a reality.

Andries Delport, Chief Technology Officer of South African operator Vodacom, said: “It’s clear that mobile technology is the quickest and most practical route to spreading Internet access to all South Africans. The first part is obvious – cheaper smart devices that everyone can afford. The second part is to ensure that the mobile networks can support the data traffic. WACS is an important piece in that network puzzle.”

The new cable adds over 400 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of international broadband capacity on launch, which is equal to the download of 4.8 million MP3 files or over 5000 DVDs per minute. The cable can also be upgraded to provide more capacity when needed.  WACS also gives operators additional network resiliency whereby traffic can be rerouted if another cable is severed.

“International connectivity is actually a pretty small part of the overall cost of delivering a megabyte of data via mobile, so this isn’t going to change the economics of our industry overnight.  However, it is most definitely a step in the right direction in terms of ensuring that South Africa is fully connected to the rest of the world”, added Delport.

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