## Introduction to METISS
Liquid Telecom South Africa, part of the pan-African telecom group Liquid Telecom, has officially launched the landing station for the Melting Pot Indianoceanic Submarine System (METISS). This significant milestone took place in Umbogotwini, located in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
### Connecting Regions
The submarine cable system is set to establish connections between Mauritius, Reunion Island, Madagascar, and South Africa. Once operational, this cable will enhance digital connectivity across these regions, fostering greater communication opportunities.
### Collaborative Efforts
In 2018, Liquid Telecom entered into an agreement with several telecommunications companies, including Canal+ Télécom, CEB Fibernet, Emtel, SRR, and Telma. Liquid Telecom South Africa is responsible for providing and managing the landing station in KwaZulu-Natal. This facility will support the submarine cable and offer fibre backhaul services to Teraco, which specializes in carrier, cloud, and vendor-neutral data centers.
### Future Ready by 2020
The completion of this ambitious project is anticipated by July 2020, aligning with Liquid Telecom’s commitment to advancing the digital landscape throughout Africa. Dr. Angus Hay, the General Manager of South Africa Data Centre, highlighted the importance of the METISS subsea fibre optic cable in delivering high-speed connectivity to every African.
### Investment in Connectivity
Liquid Telecom has made substantial investments across the continent, operating Africa’s largest independent fibre network, which spans nearly 70,000 kilometers. Recently, the company unveiled a new core network aimed at providing an impressive 99.999% uptime in South Africa.
### Conclusion
With these advancements, Liquid Telecom is poised to significantly contribute to the growth of digital infrastructure in Africa. How do you think the METISS initiative will impact connectivity across the region?