Pan-Africa telecommunications and data services provider Liquid Intelligent Technologies has laid 100 000Km of fibre optic connectivity across the continent, helping to connect 643 towns and cities said CEO Nick Rudnick said on Wednesday.

The company, which is part of a larger digital ecosystem that includes datacentres run by Strive Masiyiwa under different companies, has also been foraying into cloud computing and cyber security. This ecosystem will now benefit from the diverse Pan-African fibre network.

Nic Rudnick, group CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

“One fibre network across Africa has now reached 100 000 kilometres and our network extends to most of the African continent,” said Rudnick.

Countries including Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia have been connected. Others in east, west and north Africa have also been connected to the Liquid network, which the company now describes as the biggest privately run network on the continent.

More recently, the company has laid out fibre cables in the Democratic Republic of Congo and according to Rudnick, has connected additional three million people in the DRC to its data network.

“This network role out has enabled us to introduce cloud services and the introduction of cloud services across Africa is now possible because of reduced latency,” added Rudnick.

Despite progress in ensuring connectivity, the cost of accessing the internet means the continent is still lagging behind.

Liquid says only about 40% of Africans are connected to the internet.

Robust connectivity will boost economic development, argued Rudnick. With Fintech and digitalisation taking root across Africa, and innovators also stepping up to offer solutions, cloud computing and internet access are considered key backbones.

“Increasing internet access will boost jobs in Africa as most cities in most of the continent do not have access to reliable affordable internet. Connectivity is one of the biggest accelerators for economic development and this has been our ambition in building a 100 000 kilometre fibre network across Africa.”