List of terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa

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This is a list of terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa . While submarine communications cables are used to connect countries and continents to the Internet, terrestrial fibre optic cables are used to extend this connectivity to landlocked countries or to urban centers within a country that has submarine cable access. In most of the world, a large number of such cables exist, often amounting to robust Internet backbones. The lack of such high-speed cables poses a great problem for most African countries. The construction of both submarine cables and their terrestrial extensions is thus considered an important step to economic growth and development to many African countries. [1]

Contents

Countries

Algeria

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Algérie Télécom 2011About 200,000 km (120,000 mi) of fiber optic cables had been deployed as of December 31, 2021. [2] [3] [4]

Angola

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Africell 2022 [5] [6]
Angola Telecom 1996 [7] [8]
Unitel 2014 [9]
Zap Fibra2017 [10]

Benin

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Benin Telecoms2016 [11] [12]
Liquid Telecom2018 [13]
Phase3 Telecom 2009 [14]
Suburban Telecoms2007 [15]

Botswana

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Botswana Fibre Networks 2012Completed the Trans-Kalahari Fibre Optic Project in 2008. [16] [17]
Mascom 2013In 2018, Mascom announced they would be laying Botswana's "first fibre-to-the-home service." [18]
Paratus Botswana [19]

Burkina Faso

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Bharti Airtel [20]
Group Vivendi Africa2021 [21] [22]
Onatel2020State-run [22]
Orange S.A. 2021 [20] [22] [23] [24]

Burundi

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Burundi Backbone ServiceBurundi launched an ICT backbone in 2016. [25]
Viettel/Lumitel
Onatel Burundi Website content offline as of 5/24/2018
SEACOM [26]

Cameroon

OperatorStartedNotesRef
MTN Group [27] [28]
Camtel State-owned [29] [30] [31]

Chad

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Camtel 2012 [32] [33]
SudaChad [33] [34]
Sudatel [33]

Cote d'Ivoire

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Cote d'Ivoire Telecom
MTN Group Cote d'Ivoire [35]
National Agency for Universal Service Telecommunications2013In 2013, Huawei began building a 6,700 km national fibre network on behalf of the government. [36] [37]
Orange S.A. Cote d'Ivoire [35] [23] [24]

Democratic Republic of Congo

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Liquid Telecom [38]
Paratus Group2022 [39]

Djibouti

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Djibouti Telecom 2007Government-run [40]
SEACOM [26]

Egypt

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Sudatel [41]
Telecom Egypt [41]

eSwatini

OperatorStartedNotesRef
MTN Group eSwatini [42]
Paratus [42]
Telecom [42]

Ethiopia

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Ethio telecom [43]

Gambia

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Gamtel 2010

Ghana

OperatorStartedNotesRef
AirtelTigo2017Merger of Tigo and Bharti Airtel
Expresso Telecom Ghana
MTN Ghana
National Communications Backbone CompanyNCBC is a subsidiary of Vodafone Ghana.
Orange S.A. [23] [24]
Tigo Merged with Bharti Airtel in 2017 to become AirtelTigo.

Guinea

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Orange S.A. [23] [24]

Kenya

OperatorStartedNotesRef
AccessKenya Group
Airtel Kenya
Jamii Telecom
Kenya Data Networks
Kenya Power
National Optical Fibre Backbone Infrastructure
Safaricom
SEACOM [26]
Telkom Kenya [44]

Liberia

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Orange S.A. [23] [24]

Madagascar

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Telecom Malagasy (Telma)

Malawi

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Malawi TelecommunicationsMTL appears to have completed its domestic fibre optic network in early 2012. [45]
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi

Mali

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Gouvernement du MaliIn 2011, the Malian government announced a 942 km fibre optic cable project linking Bamako-Gao-Kidal-Tin-Zaoutière to the Algerian border and Gap-Ansongo-Labezanga to the border of Niger. The project was funded by a $45 million loan from the Exim Bank of China. [46]
Orange S.A. [47] [23] [24]
Sotelma/Malitel [48]

Mauritania

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Mauritel In May 2011, Mauritel launched a fiber optic cable project linking the towns of Nouakchott and Kobonni. [49] [50]

Morocco

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Maroc Telecom 60% of regional fibre network completed in 2010. [51]

Mozambique

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Telecomunicações de Moçambique

Namibia

OperatorStartedNotesRef
NamPower
Paratus AfricaVarious fiber projects deployed since 2011. Full FTTx deployment in various towns. Cross-country backhaul fiber from WACS (West Africa Cable Landing Station) through Namibia connecting various land-locked countries around Namibia.[ citation needed ]
Telecom Namibia [52]

Niger

OperatorStartedNotesRef
SONITEL

Nigeria

OperatorStartedNotesRef
21st Century Technology
Globacom [53] [54]
MTN Group Nigeria
Multi-LinksPurchased by Helios in 2011; at this time, Multi-Links had a terrestrial fibre optic network spanning 8,232 km in Nigeria. [55] [56] [57]
NITEL
Orange S.A. [24]
Phase3 Telecom In 2011, Phase3 were building the West Africa One network, an aerial optic fibre transmission system which runs from Nigeria to Benin and Togo. [58] [59]
Suburban TelecomsBackbone Connectivity Network (Nig) Limited has built over 5,000 km of fiber optic networks in Northern Nigeria, comprising metropolitan fiber networks and long distance backbone networks especially in Abuja and North West Nigeria. it is the largest broadband connectivity operator providing high capacity internet services, data transmission services and solutions and access to all the data centres in Nigeria. it is currently expanding its footprint to cover the whole country.

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Rwanda

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Green Future2009 [60]
MTN Group Rwanda
Rwanda Development Board The physical deployment of the RDB's network was completed in January 2011. [61] [62]
Rwandatel
SEACOM Partnered with KT Corporation [26]

Senegal

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Orange S.A. [24]
Sonatel [63]

Somalia

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Hormuud Telecom/Liquid Telecom2013 [64]
SEACOM [26]
SomCable Licensed with 25 years of exclusivity for Metro and Backbone fiber optic infrastructure building.[ citation needed ]

South Africa

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Broadband InfracoBroadband Infraco is a South African State Owned Entity (SOE) that is intended to participate in those segments of the telecommunications market and value chain that impede private sector development and innovation in telecoms services and content offerings. Broadband Infraco maintains a national long distance fibre optic network, providing high capacity telecommunication services between all major national metropolitan centres and being expanded to enable connectivity to reach smaller cities and rural areas. [65]
BWiredAnnounced in August 2011, BWired invested $600 million in regional fibre infrastructure. [66]
Dark Fibre AfricaCommunity Investment Ventures (CIV) and VenFin are the principal shareholders in DFA. ABSA Capital, who are a stakeholder in CIV via New GX Capital Holdings, also backs CIV. Shareholders in Dark Fibre Africa have granted the necessary approvals to adequately capitalize the company for the construction of a nationwide Dark Fibre Infrastructure. This funding exceeded R2Bn by 2013. [67]
Fibreco2012Established in 2009 as an equal partnership between CellC, Internet Solutions and Convergence Partners. [68] [69]
Neotel
NLD ConsortiumA consortium made up of Neotel, MTN Group, and Vodacom deployed a national fibre network in South Africa in 2012. [70]
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa In 2013, PRASA announced plans to lease excess fibre capacity. [71]
Telkom Telkom is the dominant operator and has the largest fibre network in South Africa, covering approximately 143,000 km as per the 2011 annual report. [72] [73]

South Sudan

OperatorStartedNotesRef
South Sudanese Government2013 [74]
SEACOM [26]

Sudan

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Sudatel [34]

Tanzania

OperatorStartedNotesRef
ConsortiumA consortium of TIGO, Zantel, Vodacom, and Airtel.
CTVFiber to the building, mainly in Dar es Salaam.[ citation needed ]
National Information & Communication Technology Broadband Backbone (NICTBB)2010Funded by a soft loan from the Chinese government, the NICTBB is being built by the Tanzanian government and will be operated by the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation [75] [76]
Raha/Liquid TelecomMetro fiber - Dar es Salaam.[ citation needed ]
SEACOM [26]
SimbaNETMetro fiber - Dar es Salaam.[ citation needed ]
TANESCO

Togo

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Phase3 Telecom 2009 [14]
Togo Telecom [77]

Uganda

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology/National Information Technology Authority-Uganda
SEACOM 2009 [26] [78]
Uganda Telecom

Zambia

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC)2008 [79] [80]
Zambia Telecommunications [79]
ZESCO [81]

Zimbabwe

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Africom
Dark Fibre Africa2019 [82] [83]
Liquid Telecom [84]
Powertel
Telecel Zimbabwe 2014 [85]
TelOne2010Built with Chinese workers via Huawei. [86]

Notes

This list was initially developed as part of AfTerFibre, [87] a project to map terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa. The project was sponsored by Google Africa and, on completion, will be hosted by the UbuntuNet Alliance. All information gathered by the project will be publicly available under an open license.[ citation needed ]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rwanda: Africa's First Technology-Driven Nation — A Rising Global Power in Innovation". Zoliberry. 2025-04-23. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  2. ↑ "Algeria completed its Algiers-Abuja optical fiber link section". Algeria News. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  3. ↑ Song, Steve (2013-09-09). "Algeria Telecom Fibre Network". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  4. ↑ Boudjedri, Mounia (March 11, 2022). "Haut débit : près de 200.000 km de câble en fibre optique déployés en Algérie à fin 2021". Algeria Press Service (in French). Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Africell marks mid-2021 for commercial launch in Angola". Samena Council. 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  6. ↑ "Fiber optic cables from mobile operator Africell vandalized in Luanda – police". Angola Telegraph. 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  7. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-05-24). "Angola - Angola Telecom Network Map". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  8. ↑ "Angola Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Analyses Report 2021: Angola Gains Additional International Broadband Capacity - ResearchAndMarkets.com". Business Wire. 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  9. ↑ "Unitel, Google to Build Submarine Fibre Network". Innovation Village. 2014-11-26. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  10. ↑ "Zap Fibra fibre-optic services expanding in Luanda municipalities". Comms Update. 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  11. ↑ "Benin announces second phase of PDI2T project; first phase 83% complete". Comms Update. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  12. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-03-01). "Benin - OPT". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  13. ↑ Qiu, Winston (2019-11-14). "Liquid Telecom Announces Terrestrial Cable Connecting East to West Africa". Submarine Networks. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  14. 1 2 "Phase 3 Telecom expands to Benin, Togo". IT News Africa. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  15. ↑ "Nigeria: Suburban Partners Benin Telecom on Submarine". All Africa. 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  16. ↑ "Trans-Kalahari Fibre Optic Project Complete". Botswana Gazette. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  17. ↑ "Botswana - Telecommunications". export.gov. 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  18. ↑ "Mascom launches FTTH in Botswana". Comms Update. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  19. ↑ Sehloho, Matshepo (2022-05-26). "Paratus Botswana brings fiber to Gaborone CBD". Connecting Africa. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  20. 1 2 Morris, Iain (2016-01-13). "Orange Buys Airtel Ops in Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone". Light Reading. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  21. ↑ "Group Vivendi Africa launches FTTH services in Ouagadougou". Comms Update. 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  22. 1 2 3 "Orange enters the optical fiber segment in Burkina Faso". Ecofinagency. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 England, Joanna (2020-11-16). "Orange launches first pan-West-African fibre network". Mobile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Orange launches new high-speed telecoms network across West Africa". Gadgets Now. 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  25. ↑ "Burundi launches ICT backbone". EABW. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Fiber Optic Cables To Extend to 3 More East African Nations". Integral LC. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  27. ↑ Barton, James (2022-05-02). "Cameroon to connect fibre optic network with Central African Republic". Developing Telecoms. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  28. ↑ "MTN GlobalConnect and CAMTEL accelerate Cameroon's fibre network and digital journey". Telecom Review. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  29. ↑ Song, Steve (2011-11-10). "Cameroun - Camtel". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  30. ↑ "Cameroon Assesses CAB Project". Balancing Act / Cameroon Tribune. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  31. ↑ "Cameroon to deploy 15,000km of fibre optic". APA News. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  32. ↑ "Camtel will install the Chadian fibre optic network". Business in Cameroon. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  33. 1 2 3 "Cameroon, Chad, Sudan to soon be connected by terrestrial fiber cable". Ecofin Agency. 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  34. 1 2 "Cameroon, Chad and Sudan connect by terrestrial fibre cable". African Wireless. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  35. ↑ Knutsen, Elise (20 July 2013). "Ivory Coast fibre optic network to boost growth - minister". Reuters. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  36. ↑ "New fibre-optic cable links up Cote d'Ivoire". Oxford Business GROUP. 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  37. ↑ "Liquid Telecom Lays Fibre To The DRC And Connects DRC Mobile Operator To Southern African Regional Fibre Network And To WACS". Liquid Telecom Press Release. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  38. ↑ Monzon, Luis (2022-03-23). "Paratus Expands to DRC, Connects 620KM Fibre Optic Line". IT News Africa. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  39. ↑ Qiu, Winston (2020-03-11). "Renovation of the Djibouti-Ethiopia Digital Corridor". Submarine Networks. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  40. 1 2 O'Grady, Vaughan (2021-04-19). "Telecom Egypt and Sudatel plan connectivity cooperation". Developing Telecoms. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  41. 1 2 3 Barton, James (2022-04-08). "Improved internet connectivity in Eswatini sees steady growth in broadband subscribers". Developing Telecoms. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  42. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-03-25). "Ethiopia - Ethiopia Telecoms". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  43. ↑ "Planned Submarine Fibre Optic To Boost Kenya's Connectivity". Kenya News. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  44. ↑ "MTL's USD55m project successful". Biztech Africa. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  45. ↑ Addamah, Steven (5 July 2011). "Mali : Dans l'optique de la fibre optique". Le Griot. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  46. ↑ Song, Steve (2011-08-29). "Mali - Orange Network - 2009". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  47. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-03-21). "Mali Backbone". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  48. ↑ "Launch of fiber-optic cable project in Mauritania". The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  49. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-06-20). "Mauritel - Mauritania". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  50. ↑ "Maroc Telecom's first phase of regional fibre backbone 60% complete". Telegeography. 26 Feb 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  51. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-05-24). "Namibia - Telecom Namibia Network Map". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  52. ↑ Song, Steve (2013-07-25). "Nigeria: Glo1 Fibre Backbone". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  53. ↑ Song, Steve (2013-07-25). "Nigeria: Glo1 Fibre Backbone". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  54. ↑ Zuor Jr., Ben (3 January 2012). "Multi-links introduces lowest tariff with free calls". Business Day. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  55. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-01-13). "Nigeria - MultiLinks Fibre Backbone". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  56. ↑ "Helios acquires Multi-Links". Vanguard Nigeria. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  57. ↑ Oketola, Dayo (12 Jul 2011). "Phase3 Telecom, French firm in network expansion pact". Punch.
  58. ↑ Song, Steve (2013-07-25). "Nigeria: Phase 3 Points of Presence". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  59. ↑ "Green Future to spend Rwf6.8b on cable to Rwanda". New Times. 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  60. ↑ "Rwanda: Fibre Optic Cable Rollout Complete". allAfrica.com. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  61. ↑ Song, Steve (2013-07-25). "Rwanda Fiber Optic Grid". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  62. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-06-20). "Senegal - Sonatel". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  63. ↑ "Somalia gets first fibre optic link to the world". Yahoo. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  64. ↑ "Broadband Infraco Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Broadband Infraco. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  65. ↑ "New telecoms player to invest billions in fibre". TechCentral. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  66. ↑ "About Dark Fibre Africa" . Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  67. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-03-02). "South Africa - Fibreco". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  68. ↑ "FibreCo Telecommunications Deploys Corning Optical Fiber for its Next- Generation Network in South Africa". Corning. 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  69. ↑ Staff Writer (2 July 2012). "First phase of MTN national fibre network live". MyBroadband. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  70. ↑ Nyambura-Mwaura, Helen (30 October 2013). "South Africa's PRASA to lease excess fibre optic capacity". Reuters. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  71. ↑ "Telkom aims to improve perceptions". Business Report. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  72. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-01-31). "South Africa - Telkom National Fibre Network". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  73. ↑ "South Sudan plans connection to east Africa's subsea cables". Capacity Media. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  74. ↑ Mutarubukwa, Al-Amani (27 May 2010). "Tanzania: First Phase of ICT Broadband Backbone is Activated Nationwide". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  75. ↑ "Country switches on ICT broadband backbone network". Comms Update. 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  76. ↑ Song, Steve (2012-06-10). "togo". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  77. ↑ "Uganda gets fibre optic cable". New Vision. 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  78. 1 2 Malakata, Michael (2008-05-25). "Zambian operators complete fiber network". Network World. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  79. ↑ Mulozi, Dean L. (2008). "Rural Access: Options and Challenges for Connectivity and Energy in Zambia" (PDF). International Institute for Communication and Development. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  80. ↑ Malakata, Michael (2008-04-15). "Zesco to complete Zambia fiber backbone". Network World. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  81. ↑ "Dark Fibre Africa expands to Zimbabwe". Comms Update. 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  82. ↑ "Dark Fibre Africa gets Zimbabwe licence". Comms Update. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  83. ↑ Song, Steve (2011-07-14). "Zimbabwe - Liquid Telecoms". Flickr. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  84. ↑ "Telecel begins nationwide fibre deployment". Comms Update. 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  85. ↑ "TelOne fibre deal in doubt, while NetOne pushes ahead with expansion". Comms Update. 2015-09-14. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  86. ↑ Song, Steve (2011-06-29). "AfTerFibre - Mapping Terrestrial Fibre Optic Cable Project in Africa". ManyPossibilities.net. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
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