Telkom SA Limited, Africa`s largest communications service provider on the African continent, will share its experience in building and operating a world-class telecommunications network at ITU Africa Telecom 2004 in Cairo, Egypt, from today (Monday) to Saturday.
Telkom`s exhibition includes static as well as video displays showcasing the company`s network and network management capabilities.
Wally Beelders, Managing Executive for International and Special Markets at Telkom, said: "We have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the East Coast cable project partnering with many operators in East Africa", Beelders said.
Afrolinque provides bandwidth telecommunication services to Western and Southern Africa. Northern Africa is served by a number of other submarine cable systems.
``The next logical step is to provide the East Coast of Africa with submarine optic fibre connectivity. A group of telecommunication operators from seven African countries have banded together to bridge the last remaining coast of Africa to the digital world. Companies from South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya and Djibouti are driving the project,`` Beelders said.
"Telkom operates the largest network management and operations centre in the southern hemisphere, a capability that can be leveraged to support other African operators.
"The ITU African event provides Telkom with the opportunity to have in-depth discussions with peers. An important issue is for networks to be able to "talk" to each other and connect to the world,`` Beelders said.
Historically many African operators have routed their traffic through Europe with a resultant of a large money outflow from the continent that could be harnessed to build a larger African network. The Afrolinque (Sat3/WASC/SAFE) submarine cable commissioned two years ago is providing many West Africa countries with the facilities to communicate directly with destinations anywhere in the world. Telkom initiated the project that resulted in a consortium of 36 African operators.
"While in Africa the growth is in the mobile market, it is network interconnection that will see major developments. Mobile services would be very limited if no interconnect services both at a national and International level is available. I foresee major growth in this area. It will undoubtedly be a major discussion point at the Cairo forum,`` Beelders said.
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