The shipment launched barely a day after a rival cable, the Sea Cable System (SEACOM), announced it was suspending the start of operations because of Somali pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean. SEACOM was supposed to be operational June 27 but has been delayed by a month.

The 40 kilometer EASSY shore-end cable segment is being shipped from Calais, France, according to Mike Last, WIOCC marketing and public relations officer.

The WIOCC is an African-owned company set up by operators as a vehicle for investment in the EASSY project and is a major shareholder in the cable.  The construction and fitting out of the EASSY landing stations is progressing well, the survey is complete and manufacture of the EASSY's main submarine cable is well underway, according to Last.

The EASSY cable will have landing stations in 10 African countries along the Indian Ocean including Mozambique, Djibouti, Somalia and Madagascar, but will also connect 10 landlocked countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Uganda through national backbones.

"The land cable that runs between the landing stations will also be shipped and installed soon," Last said via e-mail.