ECCAS’S INFRASTRUCTURE: A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE Countries have taken several steps to open up the telecommunications sector to competition. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) have proved to be an effective way to enhance commercial competition in a market. In July 2008 Cameroon launched an MVNO under the brand name Yemba (ITU 2009).

**Table 4.6. Gaps in intraregional connectivity and total investment required to attain minimum levels of regional connectivity**

|Country<br>Gaps (km)|Necessary<br>investment<br>(US$ million)|
|---|---|
|Angola<br>782|21|
|Burundi<br>90|2|
|Congo, Dem. Rep. of<br>1,781|48|
|Congo, Rep. of<br>425|12|
|Central Africa Republic<br>325|9|
|Gabon<br>1,418|38|
|Equatorial Guinea<br>89|2|
|Total<br>4,910|139|
|_Source:_AICD calculations .||

To attain full intraregional connectivity, ECCAS member countries will have to install almost 5,000 kilometers (km) of new fiber-optic links. Achieving the minimum levels of regional connectivity will require investments in several countries. The levels of investment required in each case are very modest in absolute terms (table 4.6).

In addition to the interregional connectivity, Central Africa combined with West African countries will have to spend $1 billion on intercontinental connectivity (table 4.7). This investment—the largest required among regional economic communities— is required for the installation of the Infinity, GLO-1, and WAFS. The bulk of it will be funded by the private sector.

The benefits of completing the regional integration of ICT networks would be **Table 4.7. Intercontinental and intraregional spending needs for** substantial in relation to the modest costs **ECCAS over 10 years** involved. Experience from other African Intercontinental connectivity countries suggests that connecting a Required annual country to a submarine cable via a Projects investment ($ millions) competitive landing station can bring down East Africa EASSy, TEAMS the costs of broadband Internet by as much Southern Africa Infraco, SRII as 75 percent. Not only would this deliver Central Africa Infinity, GLO-1, substantial savings to existing users of West Africa WAFS broadband, but the price reduction could be Total, Sub-Saharan Africa expected to induce additional uptake of _Source:_ Mayer and others 2009. broadband services. Based on regional _Note:_ EASSy = East African Submarine Cable System. ; TEAMS= The East experience, every 10 percent reduction in Africa Marine System ; GLO1= Globacom 1 ; WAFS= West Africa Festooning System. broadband prices can be expected to bring about a significant increase in broadband penetration. This makes regional integration a positive business prospect for broadband service providers, since the revenue lost from existing customers is more than compensated by the revenue gained from new customers.

||Intercontinental connectivity<br>Required annual|
|---|---|
||Projects<br> <br>investment ($ millions)|
|East Africa|EASSy, TEAMS<br>260|
|Southern Africa|Infraco, SRII<br>510|
|Central Africa|Infinity, GLO-1,<br>1010|
|West Africa|WAFS<br>,|
|Total, Sub-Saharan Africa|1,780|
|_Source:_Mayer and others 2009.||
|_Note:_EASSy = East African Subm<br>Africa Marine System ; GLO1= Gl<br>System.|arine Cable System. ; TEAMS= The East<br>obacom 1 ; WAFS= West Africa Festooning|

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