Paratus Initiates SADC Highway Fiber Route Connecting Botswana…

Paratus Botswana has commenced the development of the SADC Highway, a fiber route connecting Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, anticipated to enhance regional connectivity and provide significant bandwidth capacity. The project is expected to be completed by February 2025 and will reinforce Paratus’s infrastructure as a communications hub in Southern Africa, while benefiting economic diversification efforts in the region.

Paratus Botswana, a connectivity solutions provider, has initiated the development of a new fiber route named the SADC Highway designed to enhance connectivity between Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. This route will link Gaborone to Livingstone via Zimbabwe, with the first segment covering approximately 500 kilometers from Gaborone to Plumtree expected to be operational by February 2025. This endeavor is part of the Paratus Group’s Southern Continental Agenda, which aims to improve rural network coverage and reduce operational costs for smaller providers by providing up to 11 terabits of additional capacity.

The SADC Highway will offer critical redundancy for existing connections through South Africa and facilitate lower latencies compared to traditional routes, strengthening Paratus Botswana’s infrastructure. Shawn Bruwer, Country Managing Director of Paratus Botswana, emphasized the strategic importance of this project stating that it strengthens the company’s position as a communications hub in the region. With several operators already securing capacity, the launch of the SADC Highway marks a significant advancement in regional telecommunications initiatives.

This development represents Paratus Botswana’s fourth fiber route following its links into South Africa and Namibia. In conjunction with its connection to the Equiano subsea cable, the SADC Highway is expected to stimulate economic growth and enhance connectivity across the African continent. Paratus operates in seven African countries and is actively expanding its network services, including satellite connectivity across over 35 African nations.

The Paratus Group’s ongoing expansions and strategic initiatives, including the recently launched fiber express route from South Africa to Europe and various agreements to provide satellite services, highlight its commitment to enhancing digital infrastructure and connectivity in the region. Its metro fiber ring around Gaborone completed in June 2023 further provisioned high-speed communication capabilities to local businesses and individuals, reflecting ongoing investments in the telecommunications sector.

The new SADC Highway fiber route is a strategic initiative aimed at improving communication infrastructure between Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, utilizing modern technology to increase capacity and reliability. Through this development, Paratus Botswana seeks to address regional connectivity challenges, particularly benefitting rural areas by reducing costs and enhancing coverage. The project is a vital step towards establishing a robust telecommunications network in Southern Africa, aligning with broader economic diversification and modernization goals within the region.

In summary, the launch of the SADC Highway by Paratus Botswana represents a significant improvement in regional connectivity, enhancing communications between Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. This initiative is set to provide not only increased capacity but will also reduce operational costs for smaller providers, thereby contributing to economic growth and infrastructure resilience in Southern Africa. As Paratus continues to expand its reach and service offerings, it solidifies its role as a pivotal telecommunications entity in the region.

Original Source: www.connectingafrica.com