Paratus Botswana is launching the SADC Highway, a new fiber route connecting Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The first section, stretching 500 km from Gaborone to Plumtree, is to be completed by February 2025. The initiative aims to enhance rural connectivity and reduce costs, delivering up to 11 terabits of capacity. It is part of a broader strategy to establish Paratus as a communications hub in Southern Africa while promoting economic growth through improved connectivity.
Paratus Botswana is initiating a significant development in regional telecommunications with the launch of the SADC Highway, a new fiber connection aiming to link Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. This project will commence with the first section extending approximately 500 kilometers from Gaborone to Plumtree, which is projected to be completed by February 2025. This development seeks to enhance rural network access and lower costs for smaller service providers, introducing up to 11 terabits of additional capacity, thus improving the overall connectivity in the region.
The SADC Highway represents a pivotal advancement in Paratus’s Southern Continental Agenda, providing essential redundancy to existing connections that primarily depend on South Africa, while simultaneously offering lower latency options. As noted by Shawn Bruwer, the Managing Director of Paratus Botswana, “The SADC Highway also represents Paratus Botswana’s fourth fiber route…This cements our position in Southern Africa and Botswana as a communications hub.” This initiative is anticipated eagerly, with several operators already securing their capacity on the new route.
Furthermore, the new highway will play a vital role in connecting to the Equiano subsea cable, which is expected to stimulate economic growth and broaden connectivity throughout the continent. Paratus Botswana is already recognized as a communications hub in Southern Africa, boasting an extensive network across seven countries: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia, alongside offering services in over 35 African nations.
The telecommunications infrastructure in Southern Africa has been evolving, with various connectivity providers expanding their networks to cater to the growing demand for reliable internet services. Paratus Botswana, as a significant player in this evolution, focuses on improving connectivity and supporting economic development throughout the region. The introduction of the SADC Highway is part of a broader strategy to enhance digital access, connectivity, and redundancy across Southern Africa. Given the region’s dependence on cross-border connectivity, developments such as the SADC Highway are critical for ensuring robust telecommunications capabilities and fostering economic diversification.
In conclusion, the establishment of the SADC Highway by Paratus Botswana marks a vital step in enhancing regional connectivity in Southern Africa. With its planned completion by February 2025, the new fiber route is set to improve access, reduce operational costs for service providers, and connect vital networks across Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. This initiative emphasizes Paratus’s commitment to expanding its telecommunications footprint and addressing the growing connectivity needs of the region. The project not only solidifies Paratus’s position as a communications leader in Southern Africa but also aligns with ongoing efforts to drive economic growth and diversification through enhanced digital infrastructure.
Original Source: www.connectingafrica.com
