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EASSy is doing ok
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 16
September 2007
The EASSy
project is progressing well despite setbacks and potential landing problems in South Africa.
Director for the Global ICT Department of the World Bank, Mohsen Khalil, made it
clear ‘…that the EASSy project is progressing well and that it is expected to be operational by late 2008 or early
2009’ (EASSy progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September 2007).
In other words, EASSy is doing ok and should be operational within the next two
years.
Is everything in place for the rollout of the cable? Are there enough ships
available?
Yes, according to Khalil.
‘…EASSy has already signed a contractor agreement with Alcatel Lucent, and pointed
out that he expects that everything is in place for the rollout of the cable to progress as anticipated’ (EASSy
progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September
2007).
Furthermore, questions ‘…have been raised about
the availability of ships – which are booked out well in advance – but Khalil is confident that Alcatel has a
vessel available for the EASSy project’ (EASSy progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September 2007).
In other words, it seems that everything that’s needed for the rollout is in place
despite potential landing problems in South Africa.
'Potential landing
problems'?
Yes, although ridiculous ‘…the EASSy cable may not be permitted to land in South
Africa’ (EASSy progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September 2007).
Our infamous Communications Minister, Matsepe-Casaburri, recently made it clear that
‘…only cables which are majority-owned by South African companies will be allowed to land on local shores’ (EASSy
progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September 2007).
In other words, international cables like EASSy and SEACOM might sit with an
immediate problem because ‘…these international cable systems generally have multiple shareholders in various
countries’ (EASSy progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September 2007).
‘Matsepe-Casaburri’s ‘majority-owned policy’ creates the obvious mathematical
conundrum that when two or more countries where an international cable must land have the same policy it will make
such a cable unfeasible. Matsepe-Casaburri’s policy will in fact make the SAT3/SAFE landings illegal because this
system does not have a majority local ownership’ (EASSy progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September
2007).
In other words, Matsepe-Casaburri is once again doing more harm to the South African
telecoms market than anything else.
Although South Africa ‘….currently has a 27% shareholding in EASSy
through Telkom, MTN and
Neotel - the largest of any single nation. This – and an African shareholding of 90% - does not
seem to be enough to satisfy Matsepe-Casaburri, and if Government blocks EASSy from landing in South Africa it will
indeed be a knock to the project’ (EASSy progressing well, MyBroadband, 14 September 2007).
In other words, Matsepe-Casaburri and her insane ideas and policies might ruin EASSy
for us. It is as clear as daylight that the Minister is trying to prevent competitors, which can help to
bring broadband costs down, from entering
the South African telecoms market.
In fact, despite what the Minister might have to say about the matter, she is clearly
trying to protect Telkom. Telkom is well known for its devastating grip on the telecoms market in South Africa and
the Minister is known for her tendency to strengthen instead of weakening Telkom’s position.
Don’t be fooled by Telkom’s 'foot in the EASSy pie'. Telkom knows EASSy has the potential to give them serious
competition that’s why they were pushing for a “reasonable financial return” earlier in the
game…
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