Africa’s Digital Backbone: The Fibre-Optic Projects Powering 21st Century Growth

The Power of Undersea Cables and Broadband Corridors

Since the launch of key submarine cables like SEACOM, EASSy, and WACS, Africa’s connectivity has seen a dramatic leap forward. These undersea cables serve as the continent’s internet arteries, linking African nations to global networks, boosting bandwidth, and reducing latency. In 2024, over 15 submarine cables encircle Africa, with new projects like Google’s Equiano and Meta’s 2Africa added thousands of terabits of capacity, dramatically increasing internet speeds and reliability.

Despite these advances, terrestrial fibre networks—especially inland and rural corridors—lag. Only 37% of Africans had access to broadband in 2023, leaving more than half the population disconnected. Rural communities, where 60% of the population resides, often remain isolated due to high deployment costs and logistical challenges. Initiatives such as Kenya’s National Optic Fibre Backbone and Rwanda’s extensive 4G rollout are promising, but last-mile connectivity and affordability continue to hamper widespread access.

Mapping the Digital Terrain: Landings, Backbones, and Networks

Most African coastal nations have at least one submarine cable landing point, with 37 out of 38 countries with coastlines connected to the global internet. However, many countries rely on a single cable, making them vulnerable to outages caused by cable damage or maintenance. For instance, nine countries depend on just one submarine link, risking prolonged outages if that cable is disrupted.
Landlocked countries face additional hurdles, relying on expensive and limited wireless alternatives to connect to submarine landing stations. These countries often depend on satellite links or microwave technology, which are less reliable and more costly. To address this, several projects aim to establish more terrestrial fibre routes, creating a resilient backbone and bridging connectivity gaps.

Building Africa’s Fibre Infrastructure

Laying fibre-optic cables remains expensive—costing between $15,000 and $30,000 per kilometre—yet the economic and social returns are substantial. To accelerate deployment, private sector players and governments are partnering through public-private initiatives.
For example, Google’s Equiano subsea cable, now operational since 2022, stretches from Portugal to South Africa, landing in Nigeria and South Africa’s Cape Town, providing massive capacity and new routes. Similarly, Meta’s 2Africa cable, the longest in the world at over 45,000 km, will connect 33 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe with a capacity of 180Tbps, enhancing resilience and speed.
On land, countries like Botswana and Rwanda are deploying extensive fibre networks through partnerships with private firms and international investors. Botswana’s Fibre to the Home initiative, involving over a dozen private companies, aims to bring high-speed internet directly to households. Rwanda’s network expansion, supported by KT Rwanda Networks and GSMA collaborations, exemplifies government-led efforts to connect rural and urban areas alike.

Extending the Cloud and Supporting 4IR Initiatives

Robust fibre networks are critical for supporting Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Data centres are springing up across the continent—currently numbering over 70—and are vital for hosting cloud services, AI applications, and digital platforms. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are leading this surge, with new facilities powered by renewable energy and designed for low latency and high capacity.
The deployment of fibre also enables smart city projects, such as Egypt’s New Administrative Capital and Nigeria’s Eko Atlantic City. These urban hubs leverage fibre connectivity for traffic management, healthcare, education, and sustainable urban development, transforming Africa’s cities into digital innovators.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite remarkable progress, obstacles persist. High deployment costs, regulatory hurdles, and infrastructural gaps hinder full-scale expansion. Many countries lack comprehensive national broadband strategies or face delays due to bureaucratic inefficiencies. Affordability remains a concern—mobile data prices are among the highest globally, limiting access for low-income populations.
Vandalism of fibre cables, limited access to power, and the need for sustainable, green data centres add layers of complexity. To overcome these, Africa must prioritise innovative solutions like solar-powered data centres, wireless-last mile technologies, and open-access policies that foster competition.

Unlocking Africa’s Digital Potential

The future of Africa’s digital economy hinges on building a resilient, extensive, and affordable fibre-optic infrastructure. This backbone will catalyse innovation, improve service delivery, and foster economic diversification—spanning agriculture, healthcare, education, and financial inclusion.
As the continent continues to lay down more cables, extend terrestrial networks, and innovate rural connectivity, Africa is poised to leapfrog traditional development stages and emerge as a truly digital powerhouse. The investments made today in fibre infrastructure will define Africa’s role in the global digital future, powering gr