South Africa’s broadband industry has received another boost with news that a number of telecoms operators have signed a deal that will boost capacity through the laying of an undersea around West Africa to Europe.

The West Africa Cable System (WACS) has been agreed by a number of telecoms companies including Angola Telecom, Broadband Infraco, Cable & Wireless, MTN Group, Portugal Telecom, Sotelco, Tata Communications, Telecom Namibia, Telkom SA, Togo Telecom and Vodacom.

It is hoped that the 14,000 km long cable system, which will cost $600-million and is expected to be completed by 2011, will help to bring down the cost of internet in South Africa.

Separately, SEACOM, a rival broadband network, is expected to launch in June this year following the laying of an undersea cable linking east Africa to Europe and Asia.