AfDB loan to boost internet connectivity in the Seychelles

11 May 2011

Internet connectivity in the Seychelles is set to be boosted by a $12 million (£7.2 million) loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The funding will be used to finance the Seychelles East African System (SEAS). The project has been designed to connect the island to global internet exchange centres using high bandwidth links at lower costs.

SEAS will be co-financed by the European Investment Bank and equity contributions split between the Seychelles government, Cable and Wireless Seychelles and Airtel.

The loan will see work begin on a submarine optical cable system and associated equipment to link the Seychelles to Tanzania.

Once completed, it is hoped that the added connectivity will "broaden markets, create better information flow, reduce transaction costs, reduce expensive physical transportation and improve revenue yields".

In addition, it will help link the Seychelles to other regional ICT infrastructure, reduce broadband service costs and provide alternate and more competitive traffic routes.

Category: ICT