- An accord signed between the government of São Tomé and Portugal Telecom will allow the former's telecommunications company to partake in the West African Festoon System (WAFS).
A statement issued by the Prime Minister Rafael Branco said the island country will connect to the WAFS project through a ground station in the Gabonese capital Libreville, and the SAT3 submarine cable.
São Tomé officials said the undersea link will enable the country to enjoy improved international communications links as well as ensure better quality transmission of voice, data and images.
The undersea cable project is estimated to cost Sao Tome telecoms US $15 million. Of this amount, some US$ 2.4 million will be bankrolled by the firm and the remaining balance by its partner, Portugal telecom which holds 51% of São Tomé telecoms stake.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.