I recently discovered WIRED while at the airport on my way to London.  It must be said that aside from Monocle (obv) this is the most finely crafted and informative magazine I have read in quite some time.  The art direction is incredible so it’s no surprise that Neil recently did a 10 page feature for WIRED in Kenya.

Countries on Africa´s East coast today rely solely on satellites for their internet connection. These are slow and expensive compared with the sub sea cables that feed the rest of the world with a www connection. But several rival organisations are racing to lay high-speed cables into Kenya, Malawi and other countries. Regardless of who gets there first, everyone from distant farmers and businesses to slum dwellers trying to uplift themselves from poverty will win. However, getting there requires specialised cable-laying ships and their crews to dodge everything from Somalian pirates to cable-eating sharks in order to bring a 10,000km cable, only as thick as a sailor´s thumb, safely up onto land.  It’s not your usual ‘latest piece of fluff iPhone app’ reporting.  It’s very much about how the internet is engaging us in a real sense and having a tangible impact on existence.  Deep.  Grab an Airfreight copy.