Google is calling on African governments to ensure the fibre optic cables are protected by legislation through categorization as critical infrastructure. This would go a long way in protecting both the shoreline and seafloor cables as well as cables buried underground that are the backbone of the digitized communication in the continent. The call is made by Charles Murito who is the head of government relations and public policy for the Google company in Africa, a statement was made during the Africa Tech conference.
Google Calls for Fibre Optic Cables to Be Designated as Critical Infrastructure in Africa
Murito further observed increased risks taking by criminal gangs on network infrastructure such as batter and generator from tower base stations. This has led to great disruptions and increased costs to infrastructure providers across the continent from the increasing rate of these attacks. He has called for better policies that would protect such cables from such damages.
As we speak, fibre optic cables are at risk of theft and vandalism, which is not very helpful when trying to improve and grow Africa’s tech network. Murito also believes that redesignating these cables as critical infrastructure would guarantee they afford them proper legal and logistics security. This could also help increase further investment on the region’s technological advancement.
If fibre optic cables are deemed critical, then Governments would be forced to upgrade the existing laws and regulations against individuals who interfere with the network. Murito opines that it is important to make the change in a bid to advance digital economies, as well as enhance connectivity in the continent.
The recent call for a need to have common policies in the entire Africa region is expected to advance fibber optic rollout and access. This might result in better and safer provision of physical segments required for the introduction of digital facilities for both consumers and firms in Africa which is experiencing rapid advancement in technology.
Google Invests in Subsea Cables to Strengthen Africa’s Global Connectivity
Equiano is a recent example of large investments made by Google in subsea cables and the Umoja is the first direct fibre optic route that connects Africa and Australia. These projects seek to enhance the network connection and make the communication process faster between these areas. In its stead, the Umoja cable may be viewed as a major success in the effort at upgrading the digital asset map of the African continent.
The funding for these subsea cables is at a time when the need for better fibre infrastructure protection is growing. Management personalities within the telecom industries have recommended increased protection of fibre optics and mobile towers from some risks including vandalism and theft. They would afford more assurance to investors who wish to set up or diversify operations in Africa.
That’s why the measures recently proposed to protect infrastructure would address the increasing costs and disruptions attributable to harm that tends to occur to cable and towers. As more attacks occur from criminal groups, the cost has been shifting to the network providers steadily. These risks could be mitigated by stronger security and bring in more investment into Africa’s digital future.
That is why for telecom operators and other eager to work more actively in Africa businesses, the availability of secure and reliable infrastructures is the key during choice. by protecting the fibre optic cables and mobile towers investors can be encouraged to invest in the countries. This is especially so since Africa on average has continued to affirm its stance as the digital frontier for growth with increased demand for broadband internet and mobility services.
Laying out such responsibilities and calling for infrastructure protections increasingly makes sense as global tech leaders like Google plunge into Africa’s connectivity. Authorities are call on to engage the private players in formulating policies that will enable the continent’s digital economy to be secure and grow in the long run. Such collaboration will be critical as Africa seeks to sustain and grow more applications in the international technology space.
Murito Proposes Infrastructure Sharing and Policy Harmonization to Lower Data Costs in Africa
Self Charles Murito has mooted a proposal that could help solve the challenge of expensive data charges in Africa by having internet service providers share cables. The implementation of this approach discussed here could ease the financial privy on telecom operators that in a big way could ease the expansion of networks and in the same breathe enhance quality of services. Providers need to work more closely to ensure that they leverage the assets available since many would require significant investment to develop.
However, to Murito, there is need for more continental policy convergence, alongside sharing of infrastructure among African countries. An absence of standardization of regulations of installation and maintenance of for fibre optic cables is a constraint to growth of digital networks. Thus, laying down conformity across borders, governments can facilitate companies’ efforts to deploy and upgrade technology without falling victim to bureaucratic entanglement.
Another major challenge affecting fibre optic rollout in Africa include inequality in regulations concerning the permission required for deployment of fibres by telecoms. While these varied regulations are self-serving and enforce in the name of optimizing transport and infrastructure, they invariably lead to inefficiencies and higher costs when initiated in development of transport and infrastructure. Out of Africa’s total population, only 27% had mobile internet access in the last year, so optimisation of these processes is essential for increasing access.
Due to growing demand of reliable internet in South Africa, the government and other regulatory authorities agree that enhanced shield against fiber infrastructure damage is warranted. They have called on police to apprehend culprits involved in sabotage of or theft of vital parts of the network. Nevertheless, there have been appeals for action, no new legal measures have been suggested to reinstate fibre optic cables as more significant structures.
Regarding these challenges, Murito continues that the laws need to be revised with the cutoff of the advancement of technology. To this end, it is important for new legal structures to safeguard fibre optic cables and facilitate fast-tracking of permitting to spur investment in the moden and advancement of high-speed broadband internet across the continent.
