The SA-Mozambique leg of Seacom`s $650 million undersea cable project has been completed, and analysts say this means the cable will go live by the June deadline.
An update released by the consortium behind the submarine cable states that the segment between Egypt and Yemen is progressing well. The third and final segment is also under way, with the company loading the rest of the deep sea cable on a ship bound for India.
Seacom president Brian Herlihy says the consortium is pleased with the milestones reached. "The countdown to June has begun. We have made tremendous progress since our groundbreaking in Mozambique, last November, and we can now sense a real level of excitement for Seacom`s arrival."
According to the update, the construction of the land-based stations in Maputo, Mumbai and Djibouti have been completed, while the stations in Kenya will be completed early this month. SA`s own station is only expected to be completed by the end of April, as is Egypt`s.
Richard Hurst, IDC Africa programme manager of communications, says the timing of the landing stations could be a concern. "It is the one place where there may be delays, specifically with construction contractors."
However, he adds that the likelihood of a delay is remote. "While it is possible, Seacom is unlikely to be delayed in any way. I fully expect the cable to land by the June deadline."
Right on track
Lindsey Mc Donald, Frost & Sullivan analyst, adds that the Seacom cable has been on schedule since it started. "It is primarily because Seacom is a privately-run company that it has met all its targets."
According to Mc Donald, the progress made by the Seacom project can be used as a best practice model for all the cables expected to be built over the next few years. "Of course, they are accountable to their shareholders. However, they have managed to reach all their milestones in good time.`
She says "nothing but a severe act of God" could keep the cable from going live in time for the June deadline.
Seacom says it has started recruiting staff to manage and maintain the cable stations. In the update, the company says it has hired 10 telecommunications specialists from Kenya, Mozambique, SA and Tanzania.
"I am also most pleased with our recruitment successes and the fact that Seacom was able to source the necessary skills to operate the cable from African talent. We are inundated with highly qualified candidates and hiring almost all of our employees from African labour pools," explains Herlihy.
According to the consortium, most of the employees have already been trained at Seacom`s operations centre in India and are all participating in the testing of systems already installed.
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