Nigeria is currently engaged in advanced discussions with Google to establish a new subsea cable, a strategic move aimed at significantly bolstering its digital and connectivity infrastructure. This development, reported by Bloomberg, is part of Nigeria's broader ambition to enhance its existing subsea cable links with Europe and solidify its position as a premier digital hub in Africa. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), highlighted that such investments are crucial for realizing Nigeria's vision of achieving a $1 trillion digital economy.

While the proposed deal with Google promises improved internet access, Abdullahi also pointed out a critical vulnerability in Nigeria's current infrastructure: a reliance on cables that often follow identical paths, creating a 'single point of failure.' This structural weakness means that any damage to these cables can lead to widespread internet disruptions, severely impacting economic activities and daily life. A Google spokesperson has confirmed that talks are indeed in an advanced stage, aligning with the tech giant's overarching strategy to bridge the digital divide across Africa, which includes plans for four new infrastructure hubs on the continent to connect its latest underwater fiber-optic cables.

This initiative comes at a crucial time, as Nigeria and other African nations have recently experienced significant internet blackouts due to damage to existing subsea cables. Such connectivity issues pose a considerable threat to innovation and restrict access to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence in a continent with the world's fastest-growing population. Beyond its engagement with Google, Nigeria is also in discussions with other major tech companies, seeking to attract further investment in digital infrastructure. The goal is to provide more reliable cloud and computing power, thereby broadening the adoption and use of high-tech tools nationwide.

The federal government, in partnership with the World Bank, has already committed $2 billion towards a 90,000-kilometer subsea cable network across the country, with its rollout currently underway. This substantial investment underscores Nigeria's consistent push for a robust digital economy. However, despite their critical role as the backbone of the digital economy, subsea cables face persistent challenges such as vandalism, accidental cuts, and other disruptions. Data from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) indicates that approximately 150 to 200 cable cuts occur globally each year, leading to widespread connectivity disruptions across various sectors, including banking and telecommunications.

In a significant milestone for digital connectivity in Africa, Meta Inc. recently completed the core 2Africa Subsea Cable system. This monumental infrastructure directly links East and West Africa to the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. Notably, the 2Africa cable is the first of its kind to truly connect Africa to the rest of the world, designed to transform connectivity for an estimated 3 billion people, including Africa's 1.4 billion residents, over the next decade. Spanning three continents and landing in 33 countries, this cable represents a profound shift in international bandwidth capacity for Africa, boasting technical capabilities far exceeding previous systems. Specifically, its West segment stretches from England to South Africa, with crucial landing points in countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola. The cable supports an impressive 21 terabits per second (Tbps) per fiber pair, with eight fiber pairs on its trunk, ensuring high-speed and reliable internet access.