For years, Internet users on the East African coast relied on shoddy satellite connections to access the web. But now a 10,625-mile Seacom cable connected the coast to European and Indian networks. The cable will dramatically lower the cost of Internet for the millions of people living in the costal countries. This will lower the cost of business and hopefully bring in more jobs that rely on secure and reliable Internet and phone connections. Some are comparing the cable to the railway network that opened up the region a century ago. Since many countries have been developing their Internet culture for years, these newly opened areas can adopt what works in other places and apply a local flavor.  With Internet suddenly affordable, we are bound to see quick and interesting developments from this area.

The full story at The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/23/east-africa-broadband-revolution