Telecom Namibia, Sparkle partner to leverage Equiano cable

National telecommunications operator Telecom Namibia has entered into a strategic agreement with Sparkle, Italy's first international service provider. The partnership involves the provision of capacity services on the Equiano submarine cable, which links Portugal to South Africa. This move is set to provide a diversified, low latency route between Africa and Europe, supporting Namibia's digital development and the increasing data demand from neighbouring countries.

Telecom CEO Dr Stanley Shanapinda expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying: “We are thrilled to partner with Sparkle to leverage the Equiano cable's advanced capabilities. This strategic alliance underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional connectivity solutions to our customers and fostering Namibia's digital transformation. The Equiano cable's high-speed, low-latency connection will serve as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth across the nation.”

Sparkle’s CEO Enrico Bagnasco echoed these sentiments, highlighting the role of the Equiano cable in driving the development of Africa's telecommunications sector. “We are very pleased for this agreement with Telecom Namibia, which confirms our shared vision on the importance of international connectivity to support the digital growth of the country. We are also proud to see how our infrastructure on the Equiano submarine cable is proving crucial for the evolution of the telecommunications sector in the African continent,” he said.

The Equiano cable is set to significantly enhance Namibia's digital infrastructure, offering a high-capacity route for data transmission, improving network resilience and reducing latency. This high-speed connectivity will enable businesses and government institutions to expedite digital transformation initiatives, fostering economic growth and propelling Namibia towards a knowledge-based economy. The Equiano cable also provides redundancy, ensuring uninterrupted service continuity in the event of an outage on either the SAT-3 or WACS.