Google ramps up investment in fibre cable, training Africans

A technician strips back covering from a ethernet cable at a residential home as part of Google Fiber services in Provo, Utah, January 2, 2014. REUTERS/George Frey/Files

Google Inc is scaling up investment in Africa by laying fibre optic cable, easing access to cheaper Android phones and training a workforce in digital skills as the US technology giant seeks to expand on the continent. 

“We laid about 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) of fibre in Uganda and we are busy doing about 1,000 kilometres in Ghana,” Google’s South Africa head Luke McKend said in a phone interview. “We want to make sure that we cover all the bases. We want to train people and make sure that they have the devices and are able to connect to the internet.”