SEACOM, which connects the east and southern side of Africa, has signed an agreement with Telecomunicações de Moçambique(TDM) to allow Zimbabwe access to its fibre network after recent agreements to roll out its capacity to south Sudan, Somalia and Burundi.
Zimbabwe is already connected to the EASSy cable system and is clearly in need of additional capacity through other cables as demand for broadband and mobile services increase in the region. The deal with TDM also provides SEACOM a route to other regions including South Africa and landlocked Malawi, indicating its commitment to bridge an increasing digital divide in Africa.
Only last month SEACOM signed an agreement with Main Oneto launch capacity services between east and west Africa.
“The agreement between SEACOM and TDM shows SEACOM’s commitment to partner with established players to improve the range of services to customers, said SEACOM CEO Brian Herlihy. “(We are) continuously expanding the reach of SEACOM’s low-cost services into landlocked countries across the region.”
Zimbabwe’s telecoms industry was given a much needed boost last year after the government contracted a $45 million loan with China’s import and export bank for a range of services, including connections to undersea cables via Mozambique.
