• Google has announced plans to build a sub-sea fibre optic cable that runs from Kenya to Australia.
• The cable will also run through Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa thanks to a collab with Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
• This is the latest investment from Google into Africa after it committed to invest as much as $1 billion into the region in 2021.

On Thursday, Google revealed plans to connect Africa to Australia by means of a new sub-sea cable.

Big G is calling the cable Umoja and it will be anchored in Kenya. The cable will pass through several African nations including Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Ultimately, the cable will enter the Indian Ocean and terminate in Australia.

Built in collaboration with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Umoja is said to offer a highly-scalable route through Africa.

“Africa’s major cities including Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Lubumbashi, Lusaka, and Harare will no longer be hard-to-reach endpoints remote from the coastal landing sites that connect Africa to the world. They are now stations on a data superhighway that can carry thousands of times more traffic than currently reaches here. I am proud that this project helps us deliver a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, regardless of how far they are from the technology centers of the world,” said Strive Masiyiwa, chairman and founder of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

This additional cable should help to keep Africa online in the event of a cable break which appears to be happening with increased frequency of late.

The Umoja cable is the latest development in Google’s ongoing $1 billion investment into Africa. To date, the company has invested $900 million and expects to fulfil its commitment by 2026. Since it began this investment push, Google says that – according to third-party data – its products and services have generated as much as $30 billion in economic activity on the continent.

“I am delighted to welcome Google’s investment in digital connectivity, marking a historic milestone for Kenya, Africa, and Australia. The new intercontinental fiber optic route will significantly enhance our global and regional digital infrastructure. This initiative is crucial in ensuring the redundancy and resilience of our region’s connectivity to the rest of the world, especially in light of recent disruptions caused by cuts to sub-sea cables. By strengthening our digital backbone, we are not only improving reliability but also paving the way for increased digital inclusion, innovation, and economic opportunities for our people and businesses,” Kenyan president, Dr William Ruto said in a statement.

Google says it is also in talks with Kenyan lawmakers to improve cybersecurity in the region. The Department of Immigration and Citizen Services is evaluating the implementation Google Cloud’s CyberShield solution and Mandiant expertise in a bid to improve the security of the country’s eCitizen platform.

“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 we are excited about this next chapter for Kenya and the region,” the firm concluded.