Plans are underway to ensure Cape Verde is connected to the EllaLink submarine cable by the end of 2020.

Spearheaded by telecommunications operator Cabo Verde Telecom, the West African island nation has begun construction on a technical station to house the new high-speed telecommunications infrastructure at Praia.

This is scheduled for completion in October 2020.

In Mid-August 2020, Cabo Verde Telecom also officially commenced the construction of the technical terminal to host the fibre optic infrastructure.

Speaking at the ceremony for the official launch of the construction works, Cape Verde’s Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva said: “Cape Verde will make a qualitative leap in telecommunications and Internet infrastructure. We are making a strong bet to transform Cape Verde into a digital platform of quality services, a reference in Africa through a favourable ecosystem.”

Cape Verde first expressed interest in the EllaLink submarine cable in 2018 when it announced plans to connect to the then new fibre optic cable through which Cape Verde aims to strengthen internet connectivity in the country.

João Domingos Correia, chairman of the board of directors of Cabo Verde Telecom confirmed the cable’s terminal will be installed in Cape Verde’s industrial zone of Achada Grande Frente, in the city of Praia.

“It is expected to be completed at the end of October 2020 which means the connection to EllaLink can be made by the end of the year although there may be a date slip of one or two months at most,” Correia said.

The EllaLink submarine cable system is made up of four pairs of fibre designed to meet the increasing demand for internet traffic between Europe and Latin America.

Cape Verde’s connection to the cable system is being financed through the US$25-million sourced from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Vandalism threat

Correia recently expressed concern over the threat posed by vandalism to stable telecommunications.

In July a fire ravaged part of the operator’s premises and according to the company, it broke out in one of the energy sections that supply CV Telecom's telephone centres and disabled voice, SMS, and internet services.

“The real causes of the fire are still unclear but we have always been the subject of several attacks on our network and equipment,” said Correia.