Africa could host the world's largest radio telescope, called the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), if it wins the bid.

South Africa and its eight partner countries are making bid to host the SKA. Australia is also bidding to host the world’s largest radio telescope.

Confirming their plan to bid, SKA SA director Bernie Fanaroff said, “We’ll be submitting tonight, and we believe that it’s a great bid. The site is better than any existing observatory site in the world.”

Winning the bid would provide Africa with immense opportunities to prosper in economic and scientific fields as the SKA project will bring significant financial investment from international organizations and, boost scientific research & development.

The project will attract the attention of world’s scientific and research communities towards the continent and will pave the way for education and skills development.

To be funded by an international consortium of 67 organizations, the SKA telescope will comprise 3000 dishes, and will cost €1.5 billion to build, and require €150 million to €200 million per year for operations and maintenance.

The successful bidder is expected to be announced in February next year.