1. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy)
CLOSING THE FINAL LINK AROUND AFRICA

2. Overview Introduction Current Scenario The Opportunity
System Configuration and Global Connectivity
Potential Investors
Key features of the proposed System
Benefits to Africa
Project Costs
Project Status
Planned Project Milestones

3. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Introduction
Liberalisation of the telecommunications sector has led to evolution of internet, VOIP, mobile market & integrated network solutions.
It is therefore necessary that an appropriate infrastructure is developed to carry the rapidly increasing traffic.
The Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System has been conceived in this context.
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

4. Current Scenario West Africa covered by SAT-3/WASC & Atlantis-2
Currently no other cable initiative for East Africa
Eastern Africa Region exclusively reliant on Satellite
Limited satellite capacity, earth station and terrestrial infrastructure in region
Increase in demand for intra-regional and global connectivity, data services and VOIP
Low demand for telecommunications systems globally – buyers-market in submarine cable industry!

5. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Current Scenario
NEPAD has identified and endorsed the East African cable as a priority project.
The proposed East African Submarine Cable will provide the last link to completely encircle Africa by high capacity optic fibre telecommunications networks
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

6. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
The Opportunity
Hi quality broadband international connectivity reaching Madagascar, Eastern & Southern Africa
Restoration for EASSy via existing submarine cables such as SAFE, Sea-Me-We-3, SAT-3
Access to untapped emerging markets in voice, mobile and Internet traffic
Reduce Region’s dependency on Satellite
Lower network costs at higher bandwidth
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

7. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy)
Zanzibar
Mahajanga
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Mtunzini

8. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Zanzibar
Malaba
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

9. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Global Connectivity 1
SEA ME WE 3
SAT-3/WASC 2 3 4 20 16 7 8
SAFE 23 5 6 17 9 25 10 22 24 21 11 19 15 14 18 13 12
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

10. Strategic Global Coverage
56 Countries
Germany
Japan
SEA-ME-WE-3 (35Countries)
Portugal
ATLANTIS-2
(6 Countries)
India
Egypt
Malaysia
Senegal
EASSy
(11 Countries)
Brazil
Merely just looking at the connectivity available from systems immediately around Africa, through SAT-3/WASC/SAFE, Atlantis-2 and SMW3, African countries can have direct broadband cable access to at least 50 countries – ranging from South Americas, Europe & Asia, Australasia, etc.
In fact direct cable connectivity is available to all continents of the world – enabling business and to set up operations with the same measure of connectivity available to the global base as with any other first world region of the world.
Australia
SAFE
(5 Countries)
SAT-3 / WASC
(11 Countries)
South Africa

11. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Investment Interest
The following (11) parties have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of the system:
Telkom Kenya
Zanzibar Telecom
Uganda Telecom
MTN Uganda
TDM Mozambique
Telkom South Africa
Djibouti Telecom
Sentech
Telecom Malagasy
Rwanda Telecom
Botswana Telecom
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

12. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Potential Participants from other African Countries
Not Signed LOI&C&NDA
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Eritrea
Sudan
Seychelles
Burundi
DR Congo
Somalia
Comoros
Signed LOI & C&NDA
Swaziland
Lesotho
Ethiopia
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

13. Potential International Investors
The following International Carriers among
others have shown interest in the project and
their participation is expected in the form of
investment.
Belgacom – Belgium, BT - UK
Teleglobe – Canada ,Telenor - Norway
AT&T & MCI - USA
France Telecom ,KPN - Netherlands
Cable & Wireless and Telekom Malaysia
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

14. Key Features of the System
The completion of an optic fibre ring around Africa in conjunction with other optic fibre submarine cable systems
The first optic fibre connectivity between Eastern Africa and the global optic fibre network
A superior optic fibre connectivity utilizing Synchronous Digital Hierarchy, direct Optical Amplification and Wavelength Division Multiplexing technology
High capacity
Superior quality
Cost-effective alternative transmission medium
Provides excellent diversity and restoration options for the users
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

15. Configuration Djibouti Mogadishu (Somalia) Mombasa (Kenya) Zanzibar
Mtunzini
(South Africa)
Maputo
(Mozambique)
Mahajanga
(Madagascar)
Zanzibar
(Tanzania)
Mombasa
(Kenya)
Repeaterless
Optional link
Optional Branch
and BU
Dar Es Salaam
(Tanzania)

16. Technical Description
System length km
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Technology (DWDM)
Direct Optical Amplification Technology
Additional feeder network through repeaterless festoon systems, if required
2 fibre pair system configured as a collapsed ring
Proposed ultimate capacity per fiber pair
16 or 32 wavelengths at 10 Gbit/s
Total capacity of 320 or 640 Gb/s
Initial equipage: 1 or 2 wavelengths per fiber
System design life of 25 years.
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

17. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Benefits to Africa
Improved high capacity optic fibre connectivity within Africa and the rest of the world.
Enables new services and products not possible before due to bandwidth restrictions
Contributes towards the socio-economic development of the region
Reduced unit costs (capital and operational) for global connectivity, leading to increased profits
Reduced out payments to foreign telecommunications (satellite) facility providers.
Direct routes through own infrastructure obviate the need for transits through Third Parties - reduced out payments.
Expansion in inter-Africa trade, facilitated by better communication in the region.
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

18. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Project Costs
Project cost for a system from SA to Djibouti estimated at US$200 Million
This includes US$170 million for the System Supply and US$30 million for project management
The above excludes the cable station building and ancillary services which is estimated at US$2Million each.
There are planned 8 cable stations at Mtunzini - South Africa, Mahajanga - Madagascar, Maputo-Mozambique, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar –Tanzania, Mombasa – Kenya, Mogadishu – Somalia and Djibouti – Djibouti.
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

19. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Project Status
Initial feasibility study completed
MOU signed by eleven (11) parties.
Project Management Committee (PMC) and Working Groups formed.
PMC chairman and Working Group Team Leaders appointed.
Tasks in the next phase are as follows:
Carrying out detailed feasibility study
Developing the project financing model
Drafting of Construction & Maintenance Agreement
Invitation of tenders for supply of System
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

20. Project Management Committee
PMC Chairman – Telkom Kenya
Project Secretariat - Telkom Kenya
Project Coordinator - Zanzibar Telecom
Commercial &Finance WG Leader - Uganda Telecom
Interim Procurement WG Leader – Telkom South Africa
Construction &Maintenance Agreement WG Leader – TDM Mozambique
Backhaul Coordination WG - NEPAD
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

21. Planned Project Milestones
Sign MOU Q4 2003
Agree on Configuration Q2 2004
Issue Invitation to Tender Q3 2004
Financial Closing Q4 2004
Sign Supply Contract & C&MA Q2 2005
Cable RFCS Q4 2006
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

22. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
Conclusion
The successful implementation of the East African Submarine Cable System is expected to make significant contribution to the development and provision of ICT services and facilitate the intra-regional as well as international trade.
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System

23. Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
The End
Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System