EASSy

{{Infobox Submarine communications cable | cable_name = EASSy (Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System) | map = | owners = | landing_points = {{plainlist| * [[Port Sudan]], Sudan * [[Massawa]], Eritrea * [[Djibouti City]], Djibouti * [[Mogadishu]], Somalia * [[Mombasa]], Kenya * [[Moroni, Comoros|Moroni]], Comoros * [[Dar es Salaam]], Tanzania * [[Toliary]], Madagascar * [[Maputo]], Mozambique * [[Mtunzini]], South Africa }} | technology = Fiber optics | design_capacity = more than 10 Tbit/s<ref name=eassyabout>{{cite web|title=About EASSY|url=http://www.eassy.org/about.html|access-date=2011-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418100844/http://www.eassy.org/about.html|archive-date=2012-04-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> | current_capacity = | length = 10,000 km<ref name=eassyabout/> | topology = | first_use_date = {{Start date and age|2010|07|16}} }}

The '''Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System''' ('''EASSy''') is an [[Submarine communications cable|undersea]] [[fibre optic]] cable system connecting countries in [[East Africa|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 (cable system)|WACS]]. It has a 2 fibre-pair configuration with a design capacity of more than 10 [[terabit]] per second (Tbit/s).<ref name=eassyabout/> 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, and Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-01-23 |title=Alcatel-Lucent To Upgrade EASSy Submarine Cable System Along Africa’s Eastern And Southern Coast |url=https://subtelforum.com/49alcatel-lucent-to-upgrade-eassy-submarine-cable-system-along-africa-s-eastern-and-southern-coast/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=SubTel Forum |language=en-US}}</ref>

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,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wiocc.net/index.htm |title=WIOCC-EASSy fibre cable goes live |access-date=2010-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411074746/http://www.wiocc.net/index.htm |archive-date=2010-04-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with commercial service starting on 30 July 2010.<ref>[http://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/14278-EASSy-enters-commercial-service.html EASSy enters commercial service]</ref>

==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== *[[West Indian Ocean Cable Company]] [https://wiocc.net/ WIOCC] comprising: ** [[Botswana Fibre Networks|Botswana Fibre Networks (BOFINET)]] ** DALKOM Somalia ** [[Djibouti Telecom]] ** [[Gilat Satcom Nigeria]] ** Seychelles Cable System ** Lesotho Communications Authority ** [[Onatel Burundi]] ** TMCEL Mozambique ** [[Telkom Kenya]] ** Libyan Post Telecommunications & Information Technology Company (LPTIC) ** Liquid Telecom ** Uganda Telecom Limited ** Zantel Tanzania ** TelOne Zimbabwe *[[MTN Group]] *[[Sudatel]] Sudan *[[Vodacom]] *[[Telkom SA|Telkom South Africa]] *[[Botswana Telecommunications Corporation]] *[[BT Group]] *[[Global Marine Systems]] *Comores Cables *Telma Madagascar *[[Etisalat]] *FT *[[Mauritius Telecom]] *[[Saudi Telecom Company|STC Saudi Arabia]] *[[Bharti Airtel]] *[[Liquid Telecom]] *[[Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited]]

==Cable landing points== The [[cable landing point]]s are:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wiocc.net/eassy_network_topology.htm |title=EASSy network topology |access-date=2010-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226114442/http://www.wiocc.net/eassy_network_topology.htm |archive-date=2011-02-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * [[Port Sudan]], Sudan * [[Djibouti]] * [[Mogadishu]], Somalia * [[Mombasa]], Kenya * [[Moroni, Comoros|Moroni]], Comoros * [[Dar es Salaam]], Tanzania * [[Toliary]], Madagascar * [[Maputo]], Mozambique * [[Mtunzini]], South Africa

==References== {{reflist|30em}} *[http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=13910 "Eastern Africa submarine cable delayed for one year"], ''Sudan Tribune'', February 4, 2006 *[http://allafrica.com/stories/200605170696.html "Kenya: Govt Gives Ultimatum for Cable Project"], ''The East African Standard'', May 17, 2006 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311055231/http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/06/12/79194_HNafricaeassy_1.html?3G "Africa Resolves Telecommunications Debate Over EASSy Project"], ''Infoworld'', June 12, 2006 *[http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2006/0607121200.asp?S=All%20Africa%20News&A=AFN&O=FPLF "Alcatel Wins EASSy Contract"], ''IT Web'', July 12, 2006 *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5328578.stm "Kenya aims for own internet cable"], ''BBC News'', September 8, 2006 *{{cite web | url = http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=12932 | title = Marine cable project 'to completed as planned' | access-date = 2009-06-16 }}

==External links== *[http://www.eassy.org/ EASSy official website] *[http://www.wiocc.net/ WIOCC - largest EASSy investor] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060814223338/http://www.habari.co.tz/node/bulletins/agm2005/eascs.html A presentation on EASSy by E. Yonazi, East African Community Secretariat]

[[Category:East Africa]] [[Category:Southern Africa]] [[Category:Internet in Africa]] [[Category:Submarine communications cables in the Indian Ocean]] [[Category:Wide area networks]] [[Category:2010 establishments in Africa]]