Seacom and SKA sign MoU
Seacom and SKA sign MoU
Seacom, a Convergence Partners investee company, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa to provide support for the country’s €1.5-billion SKA radio telescope project.
SKA South Africa site bid manager Dr. Bruce Wallace said in placing the SKA data transport capacity requirement in perspective, the SKA network is estimated to be 100 to 150 times larger than the current World Wide Web network.
“The SKA project is a mega-science project and will require the upgrade of infrastructure for science and research. However, the benefits of this upgraded technology and infrastructure will be felt not only by scientists, but by businesses and economies.”
He said the wavelength project and the MOU, demonstrated Seacom’s commitment to continuously elevate Africa’s position as a primary scientific and business destination.
“The timing of this important telecommunications milestone couldn’t be better; it comes in time for inclusion in the SKA site bid submission reports due by the middle of September,” Wallace added.
Construction on the SKA is scheduled to start around 2016, and the announcement of the successful bidder, either South Africa or Australia, is expected by the end of March 2012.”