Google Internet Cable Lands in Africa, Promising Fast Connection

The Google app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. (Reuters)
The Google app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. (Reuters)
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Google Internet Cable Lands in Africa, Promising Fast Connection

The Google app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. (Reuters)
The Google app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. (Reuters)

A subsea cable owned by Google that promises to double internet speeds for millions in Africa arrived in Togo on Friday, the company said, the latest step in a multi-year project to provide cheaper access to users across the continent.

The Equiano cable, the first of its kind to reach Africa, has wound its way from Portugal and will double internet speed for Togo's 8 million residents, Google said in a statement.

That may be a taste of things to come for other countries set to benefit in a region where internet use is rising fast but where networks are often cripplingly slow and are a drag on economic development.

The new line will also make land in Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa, with possible branches offering connections to nearby countries. It is expected to start operating by the end of the year.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the world's least-connected region, with around a quarter of the population still lacking mobile broadband coverage compared to 7% globally, according to a 2020 report by GSMA Intelligence.

Most countries in West Africa are at the bottom of a World Bank global ranking on internet penetration.

Togo will be the first to benefit. The cable is expected to reduce internet prices by 14% by 2025, according to an Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics assessment commissioned by Google.

Google said the cable will indirectly create 37,000 jobs in Togo by 2025 and boost GDP by $193 million.



Google To Pay $340 Million to Settle Italian Tax Case 

The logo of Google LLC is shown at an entrance to one of their buildings in San Diego, California, US, October 9, 2024. (Reuters)
The logo of Google LLC is shown at an entrance to one of their buildings in San Diego, California, US, October 9, 2024. (Reuters)
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Google To Pay $340 Million to Settle Italian Tax Case 

The logo of Google LLC is shown at an entrance to one of their buildings in San Diego, California, US, October 9, 2024. (Reuters)
The logo of Google LLC is shown at an entrance to one of their buildings in San Diego, California, US, October 9, 2024. (Reuters)

Milan prosecutors plan to drop a case brought against the European division of Google after the company agreed to pay 326 million euros ($340 million) to settle a tax claim, they said on Wednesday.

The agreement covers the period between 2015 and 2019 and the covers sanctions, penalties and interest, prosecutors said in a statement.

Last year Reuters reported that Italy asked Google to pay 1 billion euros in unpaid taxes and penalties, seven years after the US company settled a previous landmark tax dispute with Rome authorities.

The Milan prosecutors alleged that Google did not file and pay taxes on revenue generated in Italy, basing its claim on the digital infrastructure Google has in the country.

In 2017 Google paid 306 million euros to settle a previous case that found it had a permanent presence in Italy.