Andrew Mthembu, chairman of i3 Africa, recently said that his company is planning to build an international network connecting all of the BRICS countries, and making South Africa the gateway into Africa for the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and vice versa.<\/p>\n
According to i3 Africa, this network makes sense considering South Africa\u2019s position on the African continent. Mthembu explained that all of Africa\u2019s prominent international cable systems \u2013 including SAT-3\/SAFE, SEACOM, EASSy, and soon WACS – touch South Africa, which makes the country strategically important.<\/p>\n
All of the African countries which use the international cable systems for connectivity can therefore link into BRICS via South Africa using these cable systems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is missing, and what is a challenge, is for South Africa to put forward a project which links South Africa with all of the BRICS countries to facilitate a better flow of information,\u201d said Mthembu.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is for this purpose that my company has put forward a project, which is fully supported by the South African government, to do exactly that \u2013 link the BRICS countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mthembu said that they are well-advanced with the project.\u00a0\u201cWe are quite confident that this project will get off the ground. We have seen a lot of interest from the BRICS countries for participation in this project, and to put forward money to make sure it happens,\u201d said Mthembu.<\/p>\n
Mthembu concluded that, with this project, we see an opportunity which will see South Africa playing a strategic role in being the gateway into the rest of Africa for the BRICS countries, and vice versa.<\/p>\n
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