MUANDA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Orange DRC and Airtel Congo RDC have successfully landed the 2Africa submarine cable in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) off Muanda through their joint venture, Mawezi RDC SA. The 2Africa project, which will be the world’s largest submarine cable project, is set to connect 33 countries from 2023 onwards, bringing faster and more reliable internet service to every country where it is installed.

The arrival of the 2Africa submarine cable in Muanda marks an important milestone for the DRC’s digital transformation and its connection to the rest of the world. The cable will connect more than three billion people across three continents, offering an economic potential that should ultimately increase tenfold, boosting data transfer and developing business opportunities in the DRC and throughout Africa.

Mawezi RDC SA, the landing partner for the DRC, is responsible for obtaining all the necessary authorizations prior to landing the cable, building the landing station, and operating the station in open access mode so that all internet players can benefit from these additional international capacities. As a stakeholder, Meta was the main investor in the planning and preparation for the arrival and operation of the cable in the DRC.

Laetitia Molasoko N’Singa, Managing Director of Mawezi RDC SA, expressed her pride in seeing the project come to life, stating that it will improve access to broadband internet and accelerate the ambitions of His Excellency Mr. Felix Antoine Tshisekedi’s National Digital Plan. Through this partnership, Orange DRC and Airtel Congo RDC SA reinforce their ambition to improve digital inclusion and development in the DRC.

In conclusion, the landing of the 2Africa submarine cable in the DRC is a significant step towards boosting the country’s digital transformation and economic potential. The cable will provide faster and more reliable internet service, connecting the DRC to the rest of the world and opening up new business opportunities.

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Project 75 (I) requires the Indian bidder to tie up with a Foreign Collaborator (FC) and execute the program for delivery of six conventional submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) while achieving targetted Indigenous Content. Expected to be valued at over Euro 4.8 billion, the project is India‘s largest defense acquisition project. This would also be followed by a 30-year lifecycle sustenance contract of similar value. P75(I) would be the first program to be processed under the ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model of the acquisition of the Ministry of Defence. L&T and Navantia signed an MoU for the program on 11 April 2023 at Madrid, which has now culminated in this TA.

As per the agreement, Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines, the first of which was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy at the end of 2023. Apart from S80 class, Navantia has been involved in the design and construction of Scorpéne class of submarines together with DCNS (Now Naval Group) of France, which have been exported to Chile and Malaysia. Navantia has also been involved in the Scorpene submarines (Kalvari class) built in India including handholding of the Indian yard.

P75(I) program calls for the integration of an AIP system. Navantia’s state-of-the-art 3rd Generation AIP solution is the most advanced and efficient AIP system in the world, apart from also being the most compact, easiest to exploit and maintain, and environment friendly. It uses bioethanol as a source of hydrogen which is known to be cost-efficient, easily available, and does not call for any special infrastructure. The high density of hydrogen in ethanol improves the AIP system’s efficiency. Ethanol, being in liquid form, eliminates the risks associated with storing hydrogen. In addition, the wide availability of ethanol enables the system to be refueled anywhere in the world.

L&T and Navantia are also seeking cooperation in other military programs as well as in green energy opportunities, including offshore wind through the Navantia Seanergies division.

Commenting on the occasion, S N Subrahmanyan, CEO & MD, L&T said, “L&T is proud to collaborate with Navantia for this prestigious program of strategic importance for the nation’s security. Navantia’s glorious 300-year-old track record in naval construction & technical expertise gives us a competitive advantage in this program and offers the Bio-Ethanol Stealth Technology (BEST) and environmentally Green AIP solution. We are committed to providing the most contemporary solution for Indian Navy’s requirements at a competitive price.”

Alvarez Blanco commented, “It gives us great joy to be in a position to be the design and technology partner for P75(I). We are also in collaboration with L&T for the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) program whose tender is eagerly awaited. With these two prestigious programs for the Indian Navy, Navantia is proud to be making a key contribution towards fulfilling the defense needs of India, a nation with which Spain shares an excellent relationship.”

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