O 2Africa It is the largest submarine cable system in the world and has now also connected Portugal. The cable was tied in Carcavelos, one of the European landing points and from which this state-of-the-art infrastructure enters mainland Portugal.
In Portugal, Vodafone is tying 2Africa, which will allow it to add additional capacity to satisfy the global increase in demand for global telecommunications services in the next decade, such as internet services, video conferencing, advanced multimedia and mobile applications for digital video, television high-definition and cloud computing.
The 2Africa consortium includes eight international partners: Bayobab, Center3, China Mobile International, Meta, Orange, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group and WIOCC. Alcatel Submarine Networks is responsible for manufacturing and installing the 2Africa cable.
BUT: 2Africa will only start operating in the second quarter of 2024
Launched in May 2020, 2Africa aims to significantly increase the capacity, quality and availability of internet connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world. When completed, the new cable will connect 33 countries on three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia), stretching over 45 thousand kilometers.
The project was recognized as “action of relevant public interest“. The order in Diário da República de Portugal indicates that “through the installation of this telecommunications cable, which will cross Carcavelos beach perpendicularly and tie into the underground chamber currently existing on the seafront promenade south of Avenida Marginal".
This is intended to beincrease Portugal’s international digital connectivity“, states the order, highlighting that “the delay or non-completion of this type of projects could result in a loss of competitiveness for Portugal, compared to other countries, in attracting these investments, at a time when the resilience of these infrastructures is of fundamental importance in economic and geostrategic terms".
