Governments And National Regulatory Authorities
Massive support from the governments of the region as well as the regulatory authorities in terms of policy guidelines, moral support, logistic support and issuance of statements that gave encouragements and support.

Support Of International Carriers
Participation in Data Gathering Meetings of a good number of international operators as well as full subscription to the development of the project of a number of them.

Traffic Forecast
A thorough understanding of the international telecommunications traffic patterns of Africa and forecasts of the growth of such traffic is the starting point of the economic analysis of the EASSy project. In 1995, an in-depth study of the continent's historical and published knowledge on Africa traffic, built between each country and each country and their correspondents. The study also looked at stimulation effects caused by increased connectivity. Additionally they considered new services like the internet, and new broad band services that will be consuming capacity at an accelerating rate. Finally they considered the effect of sector reform as a stimulant to growth. This forecast was compared with results in other developing areas, and confirmed with many countries.

Preliminary Technical Description
     SDH Transmission
     System length: 10,500km (Main Trunk Length)
     System design life of 25 years
     Direct Optical Amplification
     Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
     3 Fibre pairs: 3 x 10 Gb/s per fibre pair initially
     Upgradeable to 32 x 10 Gb/s Wavelengths per fibre pair
     System Interface at STM-1 Electrical (STM4/16 optional)

Key Features of the System
- Completion of an optic fibre ring around Africa in conjunction with other fibre submarine cable systems.
- First optic fibre connectivity between Eastern Africa and the global optic fibre network.
- Cost-effective alternative transmission medium providing excellent diversity and restoration options for the capacity users as well as for the other submarine systems in the region

Advantages and Benefits of the System
Bring the power of high speed, high bandwidth connectivity to Africa.
Enable new services and products not possible hitherto due to bandwidth restrictions .
Contribute towards the macro socio -economic development of the region.
Improve high capacity optic connectivity within Africa and the rest of the world.
Reduce unit costs (capital & operational) for global connectivity leading to increase profits, and lower tariffs and charges for the end users.
Reduce out payments to foreign telecommunications (satellite) facility providers.
Provide direct routes through own infrastructure, obviate the need for transit through Third Parties - reduced out payments .
Provide more profitability for telecom entities, enhancing the chance of successful privatization .
Meet telecommunication needs of high bandwidth users such as Internet Service Providers and mobile operators.
Expansion in Inter-Africa trade facilitated by better communication in the region .

Conclusion
The East African Submarine Cable System, as is the case with
SAT-3/WASC/SAFE , serve as a shining example in demonstrating the ability of African and Global telecommunications companies to work together in harmony towards realizing an important step and building block in pursuit of the development and improvement of African infrastructure.