The SKA is an international collaboration spanning multiple countries, designed to answer fundamental questions about the origins of the universe. South Africa's remote, radio-quiet Karoo was chosen partly because it has almost no interference from cellphone signals or other electronics, ideal for detecting extremely faint signals from deep space.
Source: SKA Observatory
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the SKA be fully complete?
The SKA is being built in phases over many years, with early science operations beginning on partially completed arrays while construction continues toward the full design.
Why does the SKA span multiple countries?
Spreading receiver stations across vast distances dramatically increases the telescope's resolution, a technique called very-long-baseline interferometry.
Which other countries are part of the SKA project?
The SKA Observatory includes member countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia, with additional African partner countries hosting SKA-related infrastructure beyond South Africa.