List of terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa explained

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.

Countries

Angola

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Africell2022[4] [5]
Angola Telecom1996[6] [7]
Unitel2014[8]
Zap Fibra2017[9]

Benin

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Benin Telecoms2016[10] [11]
Liquid Telecom2018[12]
Phase3 Telecom2009[13]
Suburban Telecoms2007[14]

Botswana

OperatorStartedNotesRef
2012 Completed the Trans-Kalahari Fibre Optic Project in 2008.[15] [16]
2013In 2018, Mascom announced they would be laying Botswana's "first fibre-to-the-home service."[17]
Paratus Botswana[18]

Burkina Faso

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Bharti Airtel[19]
Group Vivendi Africa2021[20]
Onatel2020State-run [21]
Orange S.A.2021[22]

Burundi

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Burundi Backbone ServiceBurundi launched an ICT backbone in 2016.[23]
Viettel/Lumitel
ONATELWebsite content offline as of 5/24/2018
SEACOM

Cameroon

OperatorStartedNotesRef
MTN Group[24] [25]
CamtelState-owned[26] [27] [28]

Chad

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Camtel2012[29]
SudaChad
Sudatel[30]

Cote d'Ivoire

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Cote d'Ivoire Telecom
MTN Group Cote d'Ivoire[31]
National Agency for Universal Service Telecommunications2013In 2013, Huawei began building a 6,700 km national fibre network on behalf of the government.[32] [33]
Orange S.A. Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of Congo

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Liquid Telecom[34]
Paratus Group2022[35]

Djibouti

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Djibouti Telecom2007Government-run[36]
SEACOM

Egypt

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Sudatel[37]
Telecom Egypt

eSwatini

OperatorStartedNotesRef
MTN Group eSwatini[38]
Paratus
Telecom

Ethiopia

See also: Telecommunications in Ethiopia.

Ghana

See also: Telecommunications in 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.
TigoMerged with Bharti Airtel in 2017 to become AirtelTigo.

Kenya

See also: Telecommunications in Kenya.

OperatorStartedNotesRef
AccessKenya Group
Airtel Kenya
Jamii Telecom
Kenya Data Networks
Kenya Power
National Optical Fibre Backbone Infrastructure
Safaricom
SEACOM
Telkom Kenya[41]

Malawi

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Malawi TelecommunicationsMTL appears to have completed its domestic fibre optic network in early 2012.[42]
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.[43]
Orange S.A.[44]
Sotelma/Malitel[45]

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.
Telecom Namibia[49]

Nigeria

OperatorStartedNotesRef
21st Century Technology
Globacom[50] [51]
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.[52] [53] [54]
NITEL
Orange S.A.
Phase3 TelecomIn 2011, Phase3 were building the West Africa One network, an aerial optic fibre transmission system which runs from Nigeria to Benin and Togo.[55] [56]
Suburban Telecoms

Rwanda

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Green Future2009[57]
MTN Group Rwanda
Rwanda Development BoardThe physical deployment of the RDB's network was completed in January 2011.[58] [59]
Rwandatel
SEACOMPartnered with KT Corporation

Senegal

See also: Telecommunications in Senegal.

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Orange S.A.
Sonatel[60]

Somalia

See also: Communications in Somalia.

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Hormuud Telecom/Liquid Telecom2013[61]
SEACOM
SomCableLicensed with 25 years of exclusivity for Metro and Backbone fiber optic infrastructure building.

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.[62]
BWiredAnnounced in August 2011, BWired invested $600 million in regional fibre infrastructure.[63]
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.[64]
Fibreco2012Established in 2009 as an equal partnership between CellC, Internet Solutions and Convergence Partners.[65] [66]
Neotel
NLD ConsortiumA consortium made up of Neotel, MTN Group, and Vodacom deployed a national fibre network in South Africa in 2012.[67]
Passenger Rail Agency of South AfricaIn 2013, PRASA announced plans to lease excess fibre capacity.[68]
TelkomTelkom is the dominant operator and has the largest fibre network in South Africa, covering approximately 143,000 km as per the 2011 annual report.[69] [70]

South Sudan

OperatorStartedNotesRef
South Sudanese Government2013[71]
SEACOM

Tanzania

See also: Telecommunications in Tanzania.

OperatorStartedNotesRef
ConsortiumA consortium of TIGO, Zantel, Vodacom, and Airtel.
CTVFiber to the building, mainly in Dar es Salaam.
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[73] [74]
Raha/Liquid TelecomMetro fiber - Dar es Salaam.
SEACOM
SimbaNETMetro fiber - Dar es Salaam.
TANESCO

Togo

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Phase3 Telecom2009
Togo Telecom[75]

Uganda

See also: Communications in Uganda.

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology/National Information Technology Authority-Uganda
SEACOM2009[76] [77]
Uganda Telecom

Zambia

See also: Telecommunications in Zambia.

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC)2008[78] [79]
Zambia Telecommunications
ZESCO[80]

Zimbabwe

OperatorStartedNotesRef
Africom
Dark Fibre Africa2019[81] [82]
Liquid Telecom[83]
Powertel
Telecel Zimbabwe2014[84]
TelOne2010Built with Chinese workers via Huawei.[85]

Notes

This list was initially developed as part of AfTerFibre,[86] 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.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Algeria completed its Algiers-Abuja optical fiber link section. 9 September 2011. Algeria News. 2 May 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402092212/http://news.dz.lesnews.tk/2011/05/algeria-completed-its-algiers-abuja.html. 2012-04-02.
  2. Web site: Algeria Telecom Fibre Network. 2013-09-09. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  3. News: Boudjedri . Mounia . March 11, 2022 . Haut débit : près de 200.000 km de câble en fibre optique déployés en Algérie à fin 2021 . fr . . live . March 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220311142247/https://www.aps.dz/sante-science-technologie/136913-tres-haut-debit-pres-de-200-000-km-de-cable-en-fibre-optique-deployes-en-algerie-a-fin-2021 . March 11, 2022.
  4. Web site: Africell marks mid-2021 for commercial launch in Angola. 2020-07-22. Samena Council. 2022-08-04.
  5. Web site: Fiber optic cables from mobile operator Africell vandalized in Luanda – police. 2022-04-11. Angola Telegraph. 2022-08-04.
  6. Web site: Angola - Angola Telecom Network Map. 2012-05-24. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  7. Web site: Angola Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband Market Analyses Report 2021: Angola Gains Additional International Broadband Capacity - ResearchAndMarkets.com. 2022-04-07. Business Wire. 2022-08-04.
  8. Web site: Unitel, Google to Build Submarine Fibre Network. 2014-11-26. Innovation Village. 2022-08-04.
  9. Web site: Zap Fibra fibre-optic services expanding in Luanda municipalities. 2021-01-13. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  10. Web site: Benin announces second phase of PDI2T project; first phase 83% complete. 2018-04-16. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  11. Web site: Benin - OPT. 2012-03-01. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  12. Web site: Liquid Telecom Announces Terrestrial Cable Connecting East to West Africa. Qiu. Winston. 2019-11-14. Submarine Networks. 2022-08-04.
  13. Web site: Phase 3 Telecom expands to Benin, Togo. 2009-09-15. IT News Africa. 2022-08-04.
  14. Web site: Nigeria: Suburban Partners Benin Telecom on Submarine. 2007-10-13. All Africa. 2022-08-04.
  15. News: Trans-Kalahari Fibre Optic Project Complete. 12 August 2011. Botswana Gazette. 1 October 2008.
  16. Web site: Botswana - Telecommunications. 2019-07-22. export.gov. 2022-08-04.
  17. Web site: Mascom launches FTTH in Botswana. 2018-02-28. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  18. Web site: Paratus Botswana brings fiber to Gaborone CBD. 2022-05-26. Connecting Africa. Sehloho. Matshepo. 2022-08-04.
  19. Web site: Orange Buys Airtel Ops in Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone. Morris. Iain. 2016-01-13. Light Reading. 2022-08-04.
  20. Web site: Group Vivendi Africa launches FTTH services in Ouagadougou. 2021-06-08. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  21. Web site: Orange enters the optical fiber segment in Burkina Faso. 2021-06-16. Ecofinagency. 2022-08-04.
  22. Web site: Orange launches new high-speed telecoms network across West Africa. 2020-11-11. Gadgets Now. 2022-08-05.
  23. Web site: Burundi launches ICT backbone. EABW. 20 May 2016.
  24. Web site: Cameroon to connect fibre optic network with Central African Republic. Barton. James. 2022-05-02. Developing Telecoms. 2022-08-04.
  25. Web site: MTN GlobalConnect and CAMTEL accelerate Cameroon's fibre network and digital journey. 2021-07-14. Telecom Review. 2022-08-04.
  26. Web site: Cameroun - Camtel. 2011-11-10. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  27. News: Cameroon Assesses CAB Project. 9 September 2011. Balancing Act / Cameroon Tribune. 12 August 2011.
  28. Web site: Cameroon to deploy 15,000km of fibre optic. 2019-06-06. APA News. 2022-08-04.
  29. News: Camtel will install the Chadian fibre optic network. 12 March 2013. Business in Cameroon. 20 March 2012.
  30. Web site: Cameroon, Chad, Sudan to soon be connected by terrestrial fiber cable. 2022-04-15. Ecofin Agency. 2022-08-04.
  31. Web site: Alink Telecom: Telecommunications Company in Côte d'Ivoire. 2014-08-26. Marcopolis. 2022-08-04.
  32. News: Knutsen. Elise. Ivory Coast fibre optic network to boost growth - minister. 25 July 2013. Reuters. 20 July 2013.
  33. Web site: New fibre-optic cable links up Cote d'Ivoire. 2017-03-02. Oxford Business GROUP. 2022-08-04.
  34. News: Liquid Telecom Lays Fibre To The DRC And Connects DRC Mobile Operator To Southern African Regional Fibre Network And To WACS. 7 February 2013. Liquid Telecom Press Release. 13 November 2012.
  35. Web site: Paratus Expands to DRC, Connects 620KM Fibre Optic Line. 2022-03-23. Monzon. Luis. IT News Africa. 2022-08-04.
  36. Web site: Renovation of the Djibouti-Ethiopia Digital Corridor. Qiu. Winston. 2020-03-11. Submarine Networks. 2022-08-04.
  37. Web site: Telecom Egypt and Sudatel plan connectivity cooperation. 2021-04-19. O'Grady. Vaughan. Developing Telecoms. 2022-08-05.
  38. Web site: Improved internet connectivity in Eswatini sees steady growth in broadband subscribers. 2022-04-08. Barton. James. Developing Telecoms. 2022-08-05.
  39. Web site: Ethiopia - Ethiopia Telecoms. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2012-03-25. 2022-08-04.
  40. Web site: Orange launches first pan-West-African fibre network. England. Joanna. 2020-11-16. Mobile Magazine. 2022-08-05.
  41. Web site: Planned Submarine Fibre Optic To Boost Kenya's Connectivity. 2021-08-26. Kenya News. 2022-08-05.
  42. News: MTL's USD55m project successful. 24 September 2013. Biztech Africa. 21 January 2012.
  43. News: Addamah. Steven. Mali : Dans l'optique de la fibre optique. 12 August 2011. Le Griot. 5 July 2011.
  44. Web site: Mali - Orange Network - 2009. 2011-08-29. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  45. Web site: Mali Backbone. 2012-03-21. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  46. Web site: Launch of fiber-optic cable project in Mauritania. The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa. 12 August 2011.
  47. Web site: Mauritel - Mauritania. 2012-06-20. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  48. News: Maroc Telecom's first phase of regional fibre backbone 60% complete. 24 May 2012. Telegeography. 26 Feb 2010.
  49. Web site: Namibia - Telecom Namibia Network Map. 2012-05-24. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  50. Web site: Nigeria: Glo1 Fibre Backbone. 2013-07-25. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  51. Web site: Nigeria: Glo1 Fibre Backbone. 2013-07-25. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  52. News: Zuor Jr.. Ben. Multi-links introduces lowest tariff with free calls. 23 January 2012. Business Day. 3 January 2012.
  53. Web site: Nigeria - MultiLinks Fibre Backbone. 2012-01-13. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  54. Web site: Helios acquires Multi-Links. 2011-11-17. Vanguard Nigeria. 2022-08-05.
  55. News: Oketola. Dayo. Phase3 Telecom, French firm in network expansion pact. 8 September 2011. Punch. 12 Jul 2011.
  56. Web site: Nigeria: Phase 3 Points of Presence. 2013-07-25. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  57. Web site: Green Future to spend Rwf6.8b on cable to Rwanda. 2009-11-03. New Times. 2022-08-05.
  58. News: Rwanda: Fibre Optic Cable Rollout Complete. 12 August 2011. allAfrica.com. 6 January 2011.
  59. Web site: Rwanda Fiber Optic Grid. 2013-07-25. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  60. Web site: Senegal - Sonatel. 2012-06-20. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  61. Web site: Somalia gets first fibre optic link to the world. 2013-11-12. Yahoo. 2022-08-05.
  62. Web site: Broadband Infraco Annual Report 2011. Broadband Infraco. 29 October 2011.
  63. Web site: New telecoms player to invest billions in fibre. TechCentral. 12 August 2011. 2011-08-10.
  64. Web site: About Dark Fibre Africa. 29 October 2011.
  65. Web site: South Africa - Fibreco. 2012-03-02. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  66. Web site: FibreCo Telecommunications Deploys Corning Optical Fiber for its Next- Generation Network in South Africa. 2012-06-26. Corning. 2022-08-05.
  67. News: Staff Writer. First phase of MTN national fibre network live. 18 July 2012. MyBroadband. 2 July 2012.
  68. News: Nyambura-Mwaura. Helen. South Africa's PRASA to lease excess fibre optic capacity. 31 October 2013. Reuters. 30 October 2013.
  69. News: Telkom aims to improve perceptions. 29 October 2011. Business Report. 8 April 2011.
  70. Web site: South Africa - Telkom National Fibre Network. 2012-01-31. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  71. Web site: South Sudan plans connection to east Africa's subsea cables. 2013-01-23. Capacity Media. 2022-08-04.
  72. Web site: Cameroon, Chad and Sudan connect by terrestrial fibre cable. 2022-04-26. African Wireless. 2022-08-05.
  73. News: Mutarubukwa. Al-Amani. Tanzania: First Phase of ICT Broadband Backbone is Activated Nationwide. 12 August 2011. allAfrica.com. 27 May 2010.
  74. Web site: Country switches on ICT broadband backbone network. 2010-05-27. Comms Update. 2022-08-05.
  75. Web site: togo. 2012-06-10. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  76. Web site: Fiber Optic Cables To Extend to 3 More East African Nations. 2011-06-14. Integral LC. 2022-08-05.
  77. Web site: Uganda gets fibre optic cable. 2009-07-25. New Vision. 2022-08-05.
  78. Web site: Zambian operators complete fiber network. 2008-05-25. Malakata. Michael. Network World. 2022-08-05.
  79. Web site: Rural Access: Options and Challenges for Connectivity and Energy in Zambia. Mulozi. Dean L.. 2008. International Institute for Communication and Development. 2022-08-05.
  80. Web site: Zesco to complete Zambia fiber backbone. Malakata. Michael. 2008-04-15. Network World. 2022-08-05.
  81. Web site: Dark Fibre Africa expands to Zimbabwe. 2019-03-05. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  82. Web site: Dark Fibre Africa gets Zimbabwe licence. 2020-05-06. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  83. Web site: Zimbabwe - Liquid Telecoms. 2011-07-14. Song. Steve. Flickr. 2022-08-04.
  84. Web site: Telecel begins nationwide fibre deployment. 2014-07-07. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  85. Web site: TelOne fibre deal in doubt, while NetOne pushes ahead with expansion. 2015-09-14. Comms Update. 2022-08-04.
  86. Web site: Song. Steve. AfTerFibre - Mapping Terrestrial Fibre Optic Cable Project in Africa. ManyPossibilities.net. 12 August 2011. 2011-06-29.

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