Herlihy's role in helping to bring high-speed Internet access to more of Africa's people through the SEACOM high-capacity submarine cable system earned him a place on the prestigious list. He is the founder of SEACOM and was the chief executive officer of the company at launch, and now focuses on strategic projects essential for SEACOM's continued growth and success.
SEACOM's official launch in July 2009 marked the beginning of positive changes in numerous African countries via the spread of access to wholesale broadband internet. Over 17 000 km of undersea fibre optic cable was laid, connecting Africa to the rest of the world via India and Europe.
Says Herlihy: "SEACOM believes in an interconnected African experience that is characterised by abundant local content, minimal latency and fast download and streaming speeds. I am honoured that the WEF has seen fit to recognise and reward this vision with this award. I look forward to playing a role in making the Internet more accessible to more people in Africa in the years to come."
