Safaricom Seeks Approval To Build Its Own Undersea Cable
— written by Sanju on Jan. 28, 2025, 5:37 p.m.
Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, Safaricom, is taking bold steps to enhance its internet services by applying for regulatory approval from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to build its own undersea cable.
This groundbreaking move would mark Safaricom as the first Kenyan telco to invest in its own submarine cable infrastructure, significantly boosting its ability to deliver high-speed internet and reduce reliance on third-party cable providers.
Currently, Safaricom depends on international bandwidth from providers like SEACOM, East African Submarine System (Eassy), TEAMS, and Telkom Kenya, with the latter maintaining five out of six submarine cables connected to Kenya.
If granted submarine cable landing rights by the CA, Safaricom will gain the ability to operate and manage its own undersea cables, creating a more independent and robust internet ecosystem for its users.
Reports indicate that Safaricom has already formed a consortium to spearhead the multi-billion-shilling project. This venture comes at a crucial time, as Kenya’s internet landscape faces growing competition from new entrants such as Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service.
Starlink launched operations in Kenya in July 2023, disrupting the market with its innovative satellite internet services and contributing to a rise in satellite subscriptions.
Safaricom’s plans also follow a challenging period when undersea cable cuts, particularly at the Mtunzini teleport station, disrupted services and forced the company to acquire additional capacity from other providers. Such incidents highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying on external infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of Safaricom’s strategic decision to invest in its own cable.
By owning an undersea cable, Safaricom aims to not only improve connectivity for its customers but also strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional internet hub. With over 550,000 fixed broadband subscriptions, Safaricom is already a leader in Kenya’s internet sector. This venture could further solidify its dominance, offering faster, more reliable internet services to its customers while keeping pace with evolving competition.
If approved, Safaricom’s initiative will undoubtedly be a milestone, driving innovation and progress in Kenya’s telecommunications sector.
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