Google and Liquid join forces to revolutionise Africa connectivity

GOOGLE and Liquid Technologies have joined forces to significantly enhance digital infrastructure and security across Africa.

This landmark partnership, known as Umoja, will launch the first-ever fibre optic route directly linking Africa to Australia.
The Umoja cable, anchored in Kenya, will traverse seven African countries before crossing the Indian Ocean. This groundbreaking route, including the Google Cloud region, will provide numerous access points for other nations to join the network, bolstering connectivity and resilience.

Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chairman of Liquid Technologies.

This initiative is a major step towards a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, as emphasised by Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chairman of Liquid Technologies.
Major African cities will no longer be remote endpoints but integral stations on a data superhighway, capable of carrying exponentially more traffic than current infrastructure allows.
The Umoja cable is part of Google’s broader Africa Connect initiative, aimed at maintaining a resilient network in a region historically prone to outages. The project is expected to transform Kenya’s digital landscape and cascade benefits across the region, as noted by U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman.
Kenya’s President William Ruto hailed Google’s investment as a historic milestone. The new cable will significantly bolster global and regional digital infrastructure, ensuring redundancy and resilience, particularly in light of recent sub-sea cable disruptions.
Australia’s Communications Minister Michelle Rowland also lauded the initiative for diversifying Australia’s connectivity and supporting global digital inclusion.
Beyond infrastructure, Google’s collaboration with Kenya’s ministry of Information Communications and the Digital Economy will focus on accelerating cybersecurity, data-driven innovation, digital upskilling, and the responsible deployment of AI for societal benefits. This includes a joint effort to strengthen Kenya’s cybersecurity, with the Department of Immigration & Citizen Services evaluating Google Cloud’s CyberShield solution and Mandiant expertise to enhance the security of its eCitizen platform.
This multifaceted partnership underscores Google’s long-term commitment to investing in secure technology infrastructure, connecting communities, expanding education, and driving economic development throughout Africa. – Correspondent
newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw