The Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) is an underseafibre optic cable system connecting countries in Eastern Africa to the rest of the world.
EASSy runs from Mtunzini in South Africa to Port Sudan in Sudan, with landing points in nine countries and is connected to at least ten landlocked countries — which will no longer have to rely on satellite Internet access to carry voice and data services.
EASSy was the highest capacity system serving sub-Saharan Africa until the commissioning of WACS. It has a 2 fibre-pair configuration with a design capacity of more than 10 terabit per second (Tbit/s).[1] It is the first to deliver direct connectivity between east Africa and Europe / North America. It is the only system with built-in resilience end-to-end. EASSy interconnects with multiple international submarine cable networks for onward connectivity to Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia.[2]
The project, partially funded by the World Bank, was initiated in January 2003, when a handful of companies investigated its feasibility. The cable entered service on 16 July 2010,[3] with commercial service starting on 30 July 2010.[4]
Project milestones
MoU signature – December 2003
Detailed feasibility study – March 2004
Data gathering meeting – June 2005
C&MA drafting finalization – March 2006
Supply contract award – September 2006
Registration/incorporation of SPV – January 2007
Construction and maintenance agreement (Shareholders' Agreement) Signature (C&MA) – 12 October 2006 to 12 February 2007
Financial closure – March 2007
Supply contract signature – March 2007
Construction Started – March 2008
Cable manufacture complete – November 2009
Marine laying commencing – December 2009
Construction complete – April 2010
Live – July 2010
Telecommunications companies of participating nations
