According to Google, a submarine cable that would increase internet speeds for millions of Africans landed in Togo on Friday, the latest phase in a multi-year project to bring cheaper access to customers across the continent.

According to Google, the Equiano cable, which is the first of its kind to reach Africa, has made its way from Portugal and will increase internet speed for Togo’s 8 million citizens. That could be a sign of things to come for other countries in a region where internet use is rapidly increasing but networks are frequently cripplingly extremely slow and a drag on economic progress.

The new line will also stop in Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa, with future branches connecting to more nations in the region. By the end of the year, it should be operational. According to a 2020 analysis by GSMA Intelligence, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the world’s least-connected region, with approximately a quarter of the population still missing mobile broadband service, compared to 7% globally.

The majority of West African countries rank near the bottom of a global rating of internet penetration by the World Bank. Togo will be the first to reap benefits. According to a Google-commissioned study by Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics, the cable is predicted to lower internet prices by 14% by 2025.

According to Google, the cable would generate 37,000 employment and $193 million in GDP in Togo by 2025.