wiredinUSA June 2013

INDEX

Expresso Ghana landed the $700 million, 17,000km ACE fiber optic cable on the Ghanaian coast in time for its mid-May launch. ACE is the acronym for the Africa Coast to Europe submarine cable, and represents a consortium of 19 members. The cable connects 23 countries, mainly on the coast of Africa but also using terrestrial links to landlocked countries including Mali and Niger. It is the first cable system to connect seven African countries in a stretch. Expresso Ghana said: “ACE will connect Ghana with 22 countries from South Africa to Portugal to France and other International Gateways.” Ghana already has the WACS cable from MTN, SAT-3 from Vodafone, Glo One from Globacom and the MainOne cable on its shores, which gives the country a huge fiber optic redundancy capacity. ACE launch for Ghana

Network in Taipei

The Taiwan Intelligent Fiber Optic Network Consortium (Taifo), a joint venture established in 2012 specifically to establish a fiber optic communications network around Taipei City, began construction during May. Initially Taifo plans to deploy the fiber optic network in three administrative districts, to reach coverage of 20 percent, about 40,000 household users, by the end of 2013. The city government hopes that the fiber optic network can cover 80 percent of households around the city by the end of 2015. Taiwan-based Tai Tung Communication, the major shareholder of Taifo with a 72 percent stake, will supply fiber optic cables for the project.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - June 2013

41