Mostly in order to keep them all straight in my head, I have compiled a list of African undersea cable initiatives and their features, investors, etc.
| Seacom | EASSy | TEAMs | Uhurunet | Infraco | |
| Cost (USD) |
650 million | 265 million | 82 million | 2 billion | 180 million |
| Length | 13,700km | 10,000km | 4,500 km | 50,000 km | ? |
| Capacity |
1.28 terabits/s | 640 gigabit/s | 40 gigabit/s | 3.84 terabits/s | ? |
| Completion |
June 2009 | 2009 | April 2009 | 2009/2010 | May 2010 |
| Ownership |
USA 25% SA 50% Kenya 25% |
African Telecom Operators 90% |
Kenya 85% UAE 15% |
African Telecom Operators 45% |
SA 100% |
Investor detail:
Seacom (http://www.seacom.mu)
Industrial Promotion Services (25%), an arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (USD 75 million)
(Kenya - founded by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV of Pakistan)
VenFin Limited (25%) - USD 75 million)
Herakles Telecom LLC (backed by Blackstone) (25%), New York-based lead company, no website (USD 75 million)
Convergence Partners (12,5%) - USD 37.5 million
Shanduka Group (12.5%) - USD 37.5 million
EASSy (http://www.eassy.org/)
EASSy is 90% African owned although that ownership is underwritten by a substantial investment by Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) including World Bank/IFC, EIB, AfDB, AFD, and DfW. Total DFI investment is apparently $70.7 million, with $18.2 million coming from IFC, 14.5 million from AfDB. This is a smaller amount than the originally advertised $120 million investment from DFIs.
South African investors in EASSY include Telkom South Africa ($18.9 million) , Neotel, and MTN.
There are 26 telco operators in total invested in EASSy.
An SPV created to facilitate. open access will be the biggest shareholder, with 46%.
In Jan 2008, VSNL announced an investment in EASSy
Teams
Currently, 85 per cent of the project is owned by the Government of Kenya and the rest by Etisalaat of the United Arab Emirates. The Gov’t of Kenya is looking for local investment in the cable. According to Business Day, Safaricom is a likely shareholder at 30 per cent with the government retaining a 20 per cent stake. The rest is up for investment by regional operators.
Uhurunet
African telecom operators (45%), Nepad (30%), International investors (25%)
Confirmed and rumored investors:
• 5P Holdings (US)
• International Development Office of the government of Ras Al Khaimah (an emirate in the UAE)
• Pan-African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF)
• Phelps Stokes Fund (American 501 (c)(3) nonprofit
• Sheikh Saoud of Qatar (rumored)
• South African ownership: Telkom, Neotel and MTN together own 27%
Infraco
100% South African government owned.