SEACOM recently announced the start of its marine survey and the signing of a construction agreement for the 13,000 km project which involves the construction of the undersea fiber optic network providing high capacity bandwidth connectivity between South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, India, the Middle East and Europe.

SEACOM and Neotel recently announced agreement of commercial terms for the partnership of landing the SEA Cable System in South Africa. Through the partnership, Neotel will own the cable landing station and all facilities within the South African territory. The terms of the agreement ensure that the operation of the cable will meet current and future regulations, in line with the Electronic Communications Act of 2006. Neotel will operate the facilities on an open access basis; Neotel and SEACOM believe that such a policy will stimulate the South African international bandwidth market and make available affordable bandwidth to South African customers.

"We see this as an opportunity for us to make a small but significant change to the face of education in Africa," explains Brian Herlihy, President, SEACOM, Ltd. "SEACOM hopes that our actions signal our intention to meet the policy objectives of African Governments and NEPAD. While our commercial pricing will deliver affordable infrastructure for the growth of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, in particular business process outsourcing, and call centers, we have made this special concession to ensure growth of research industries and education networks thereby fostering the growth of the knowledge economy. This exceptional offer to TENET will enable the universities and research institutions of South Africa, as well as those of other countries of eastern and southern Africa, to participate in the global research and education networking community on a scale that is totally impossible today."

"Neotel recognises the key role of telecommunications in the development of research and academic institutions that provide South Africa with the required skills for economic growth," says Mr. Ajay Pandey, MD, Neotel. "The collaboration between Neotel and SEACOM will provide countless more benefits to the South African economy."

About SEACOM
SEACOM intends to construct, finance own and operate a submarine fibre optic cable ("SEA Cable") that will connect South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania and Kenya to India and Italy, where other international cables currently exist. The SEA Cable will be constructed with private funding and is positioning itself to be a seller of international bandwidth to the African carriers at wholesale prices. The SEA Cable intends to be a compliment to the African carriers that offers PoP to PoP solutions for connectivity in Europe and Asia. Each landing station and collocation center attached to the SEA Cable will be operated on an open access principle to ensure compliance with appropriate legislation and act as a catalyst to the East and South African communication markets. The SEA Cable intends to be operational by the first quarter of 2009.

About Neotel
Neotel is the first national infrastructure-based competitor in the fixed line telecoms sector in South Africa. The company aims to reduce the cost of doing business by enhancing the operational efficiencies of companies through the optimal use of advanced communications technologies, and to extend these benefits into the new economy. Much has changed in the telecoms market in recent months, in South Africa as well as globally. Recognising the changing requirements of telecoms users in South Africa, Neotel is building itself to be a preferred provider of leading-edge telecommunications, well beyond the traditional concept of a fixed line operator. Its various telecom licences, including the PSTS Licence issued to Neotel as the new national operator of South Africa, allow the company to provide the entire range of telecoms services with the exception of full mobility.

About TENET
Tenet is a not-for-profit entity that runs a national research and education network on behalf of 40-odd research and educational institutions in SA and surrounds. It is responsible for securing connectivity and associated services for the institutions it serves, and which control it. These institutions include all 23 of SA's public universities and most of the public research councils.

About UbuntuNet
The UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networking is a not-for-profit association of National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its purpose is to develop and promote high-bandwidth connectivity between its member NRENs as well to provide them high-bandwidth connectivity with other research and education networks and the Internet world-wide. TENET is a founding member of the Alliance.