What's up with EASSY?

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 27 May 2007

This is the question one can ask after the launch of the East African Submarine cable system (EASSY) has AGAIN been delayed. This comes as a blow to South Africans that were hoping for waves of change to hit our shores sooner.

According to Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (‘Poison Ivy’): “In a few days time we expect to bring the Protocol for NEPAD ICT Broadband Network for ratification by Parliament. This network, which is planned to be operational by mid 2009 represents the spirit of self determination…” (EASSY launch date pushed back, MyADSL, 25 May 2007).

In other words, EASSY is now expected to launch in mid-2009 instead of this year.

Will EASSY ever be launched?

Yes, but don’t hold your thumbs for a quick launch…

‘In March 2006 the project manager promised a launch date of the fourth quarter of 2006, but the operational date was set back to 2008 in October the same year.

The minister’s latest delay with the cable system’s operational date effectively means that the operational date has now been delayed by a year and a half since March 2006. The strange irony is that a process which should be going forward has moved backwards over the last year’ (EASSY launch date pushed back, MyADSL, 25 May 2007).

In other words, don’t be too surprised if EASSY kicks-off during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.

Is EASSY really that important?

If you’re not familiar with the Internet at all the answer is a big NO but if you like to surf online then EASSY got to be important to you, especially if you’re sick and tired of the high costs associated with broadband Internet in South Africa.

‘The NEPAD ICT Broadband Network, aka EASSy, brings the hope of much needed competition to the SAT3/SAFE system and with it the expectation that international bandwidth rates will come down’ (EASSY launch date pushed back, MyADSL, 25 May 2007).

In other words, surfing will become cheaper if EASSY launches (or sink to the bottom of the ocean).

‘Furthermore, it has been proposed to be a key component for ensuring that SA has sufficient bandwidth capacity for hosting the 2010 World Cup’ (EASSY launch date pushed back, MyADSL, 25 May 2007).

In other words, if EASSY doesn’t launch before the 2010 Soccer World Cup ‘sufficient bandwidth capacity’ will not be something we can expect during the World Cup.

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) doesn’t welcome the push back of EASSY’s launch because it’s a sure sign that they’re taking you and us for another ride.