Inter-country undersea cable to anchor at Amanzimtoti beach
The METISS submarine cabling system will deliver a boost to internet bandwidth between the respective countries
An Environmental Impact Assessment process is underway for the installation and operation of an undersea cable system to be landed at Pipeline Beach in Amanzimtoti. The Melting poT Indianoceanic Submarine System (METISS) fibre optic submarine cable system is set to link South Africa, Madagascar, Réunion Island and Mauritius.
Copies of the draft scoping report are available for public comment for a 30-day period ending on 4 March. It can be obtained online at https://www.erm.com/en/public-information-sites/metiss-subsea-cable-system/ or viewed at Kingsburgh library in Hall Road, Warner Beach.
The METISS submarine cabling system will span more than 3,200km and deliver a boost to internet bandwidth between the respective countries, providing a connection speed of 24 terabites per second (TBps).
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The anticipated METISS submarine cable footprint within South African waters is 538km. The system includes plans for a 14mm to 35mm diameter cable which will enter the South African Exclusive Economic Zone, which is 200 nautical miles from the sea shore, through territorial waters (12 nautical miles from the sea shore), crossing the shoreline to terminate in a beach manhole to be installed at Pipeline Beach.
The cable system is provisionally scheduled to be landed and installed in the first quarter of 2020 and expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2020. The public is urged to consult the document and provide their input by the deadline given.
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