WINDHOEK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The national telecommunications operators of Namibia and Angola strengthened regional and international digital connectivity with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Commercial Terms Agreement (CTA) on Thursday.
According to Namibia's national telecommunications operator Telecom Namibia, the agreement will enable Angola Telecom to access international capacity via Telecom Namibia's Equiano Subsea Cable landing in Swakopmund while laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration linked to the Southern Africa Regional Submarine Cable System (SARSSy), a new undersea internet cable being developed by Angola Telecom.
The signing held in the coastal town of Swakopmund was witnessed by government officials, which included Namibia's Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, and Angola's Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication, Mario Augusto da Silva Oliveira.
"Through this partnership, Namibia is deliberately leveraging its strategic investment in international digital infrastructure, most notably the Equiano Subsea Cable System, to expand access beyond our borders," Theofelus said.
The decision to connect SARSSy to Equiano via Swakopmund reflects practical cooperation rooted in sound economics and global best practice, she added.
Her counterpart Oliveira noted that the initiative marks a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Angola and Namibia, while describing the project as "a project of vision and of the future, one that connects infrastructure, integrates markets, and brings people closer together."
Equiano connects Africa directly to Europe via Portugal while linking critical African digital hubs, including South Africa. ■
