(Ecofin Agency) – The company wants to ride the growing demand for high-speed connectivity on the continent. In May, it signed with the Cameroonian public company Camtel to strengthen its network in this country and in West Africa.
International ICT solutions and network services provider Angola Cables launches operations in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The initiative was revealed last week by Sudhir Juggernath (photo), CEO of TelCables, a subsidiary of Angola Cables, for Southern and Eastern Africa, in an interview with South African media ITWeb Africa. It can be part of the company’s expansion strategy on the continent.
In May 2024, Angola Cables signed an agreement with Cameroonian incumbent operator Camtel to strengthen its network in the region. In November 2022, it established a subsidiary in Nigeria to coordinate its activities in the West Africa region. The latter has set up a partnership program allowing telecom companies, ICT integrators, as well as Internet service providers to extend their influence in the region.
According to Mr. Juggernath, Angola Cables intends to enter new markets through partnerships rather than acquisitions. “ […] We provide global connectivity through our submarine cables. We want to enter untapped markets for digital growth and productivity. Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, we want to make them self-reliant with our Internet connectivity“, he said.
This initiative responds to the growing demand for high-speed connectivity in Africa, where operators are looking for robust solutions to support the rise of digital uses. Recurring submarine cable outages this year have also shown the urgency of diversifying and strengthening infrastructure. Furthermore, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are landlocked countries. They therefore essentially depend on connections with neighboring countries to access international connectivity, making them strategic markets for Angola Cables.
With this expansion, we can expect an improvement in the quality of Internet coverage in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These countries have respective penetration rates of 27.7%, 31.2% and 32.6%, according to DataReportal data from January 2024. While this expansion opens up revenue growth opportunities for Angola Cables, it first requires investments in fiber optic networks, which can be slowed by several obstacles, including regulations.
« Regulators must speak. Regulators must make it easier for operators and ISPs to deploy fiber or connectivity to the unconnected more quickly. This is to facilitate the laying of fiber, to facilitate the passage of fiber through a city. Do not create obstacles to laying the fiber“, recommended Mr. Juggernath.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
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10/05/2024 — Angola Cables relies on Cameroonian Camtel to strengthen its network in Africa
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