Luanda-based telecommunications operator Angola Cables is considering extending its network to the East African market as its next frontier, after opening up the South Atlantic Cable System (SACS).

Speaking on the sidelines of the East Africa Com 2019 conference, Rui Faria, Head of Projects and Sales at Angola Cable, said the Eastern Coast of Africa can benefit from the its South American route rather than the Europe route that most East Coast cables are currently using.

The company will seek to sign agreements with cable businesses on the East coast to provide the alternative route, rather than build its own infrastructure.

Faria singled out Kenya as a potential base for their operations, but did not offer any further detail as to what other services could be in the pipeline for the local market.

"Going through Europe is cumbersome for many cables as they have to change interfaces and systems. For SACS it connects south (Africa) to south (S. America) then goes north (N. America) and it is straightforward," he said.

Faria believes the Southern Africa and South America market can learn from each other and develop the systems at the same pace, ensuring a long lasting integration.

"Southern Africa and South America have many similarities including cultural and development," he added.

The SACS cable connects the cities of Luanda, Angola and Forteleza, Brazil then terminates in Miami, Florida, through the MONET cable system.

Angola Cables began its SACS operation in September 2018 and has shares in the West African Cable System (WACS).

The company claims to feature the lowest latency in connection compared to other cables around the continent. For example, the connection from Miami to Luanda was 237ms, but with the SACS it is 125ms, while Miami to Cape Town is now 163ms (from 338ms).

Cables that run on the East Coast include SEACOM, East African Marine Cable System (TEAMS), Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System EASSY and Lion 2.