Google: Google is planning to implement the world’s first fiber optic route called Umoja to connect Africa and Australia across the Indian Ocean.
Google has announced new initiatives in digital infrastructure and security initiatives designed to increase digital connectivity globally, accelerate economic growth and deepen digital development across Africa. Google parent company Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai posted this on his X social media page.
Google has announced Umoja, the first fiber optic connectivity project to directly connect Africa to Australia under this project. The link is planned across the Pacific Ocean. The Umoja optic cable route, which will be launched in Kenya, will reach Australia via the Indian Ocean, followed by Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Umoja is a project that helps connect African countries with the rest of the world more reliably. It suggests a new route different from the existing link routes. Google says it’s important to build a recovery network in a region (Africa) that has historically been hit the hardest.
In the press release, Google also expressed its gratitude to the partnership of leaders around the world, including Africa and Australia, for allowing Umoja to provide connectivity.
In addition to today’s internet infrastructure announcement, Google will partner with Kenya’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to accelerate these joint efforts to promote responsible and secure use of cyber security, digital development and artificial intelligence development.
Google noted that innovative projects in secure technology infrastructure play an important role in connecting the world, expanding educational growth, and driving healthy economic growth in Africa and around the world.
Since Google opened our first Sub-Saharan Africa office in Nairobi in 2007, Google has partnered with the governments of countries across Africa on a number of digital initiatives. In 2021, Google pledged to invest US$1 billion in Africa over the next 5 years to help accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
Since then, Google has invested more than US$900 million in the region and says it will reach US$1 billion by 2026. Google said this week’s cooperation between African countries will help boost Africa’s digital transformation and economic growth.
