29 January 2025
Safaricom is seeking regulatory approval from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to build its own undersea cable..jpg?lu=726)
These rights would allow Safaricom to operate and maintain multiple submarine cables that land in Kenya. If allowed, this strategic move might greatly increase Safaricom's ability to provide high-speed internet, improve connectivity, and minimise its dependency on third-party cable providers. The telco would also be the first in the country to invest in its own undersea cable.
Safaricom currently relies on SEACOM, East African Submarine System (Eassy), TEAMS, and Telkom Kenya for their international bandwidth requirements. In Kenya, subsea cable landing rights are generally managed by the CA.
Safaricom has since formed a consortium to build the multibillion-dollar underwater internet line. It was forced to purchase additional internet capacity from other undersea cable providers last year due to massive undersea cable cuts that disrupted some of its services. The deep-sea fibre cut occurred at the Mtunzini teleport station, disrupting numerous underwater cables that serve Kenya, notably SEACOM and the Eassy.
If successful, Safaricom's effort into owning and managing its own undersea cable might be a watershed moment for the company, further cementing Kenya's status as a regional hub for internet connectivity.
