The 14,000 kilometre West Africa Cable System (WACS) carrying data and telephony services, links Europe to 15 landing stations along the west coast of Africa, including South Africa. With Botswana having no direct link to the sea, government partnered with Namibia to each raise US$37.5 million (P277.5 million at current rates) to "buy into" the project with other countries.
Botswana and Namibia thus own 9.2 percent of the project, which will be operated on an open access policy with other stakeholders. When it is launched in Swartkopmund, Namibia mid-May, WACS will become the latest submarine cable system to hit local shores since the East Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy). EASSy went live early last year, immediately lowering internet and mobile costs and allowing a five-year plan for further reductions.
With a data rate of 5.12 terabits per second, WACS will be superior to EASSy, which at 3.8 terabits per second is already among the fastest in the world. WACS is designed to support present and future internet, e-commerce, data, video and voice services. A high profile launch is planned for Swartkopmund with the presidents of both countries invited to give speeches during proceedings.
