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Kenya: Bayobab Launches 1,000-Km Kenya Railways Fibre Route From Mombasa – Nairobi – Malaba

On 27 August 2024, Bayobab Kenya announced the completion of a new long-distance fibre network running from the coastal city of Mombasa via the capital Nairobi to Malaba and Busia on the border with neighbouring Uganda. According to a company press release, the long-distance fibre network runs along Kenya Railway’s metre gauge railway line route which spans over 1,000 kilometres. Seven submarine cables now land in Mombasa: SEACOM, EASSy, TEAMS, LION2, DARE, PEACE, and 2Africa. In 2022, Bayobab Kenya launched the first phase of its National Long-Distance fibre running from Mombasa to Malaba along the Kenya Pipeline (see Kenya: Kenya Pipeline Company Launches Fibre Network). The second long-distance fibre route from Mombasa to Uganda provides redundancy and diversity for onward connectivity to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kenya’s utilized international Internet bandwidth reached 8,042.08 Gbps in December 2023, according to latest statistics released... Read More →


Zambia: International Internet Bandwidth Reaches 177.1 Gbps, Dec 2023

Zambia’s utilised international Internet bandwidth reached 177.1 Gbps by December 2023, according to latest figures published by ZICTA (Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority). This compared to 124.4 Gbps in December 2022, 98.3 Gbps in 2021, 95.2 Gbps in 2020, and 80.4 Gbps in 2019. The total equipped international capacity of wholesale carriers reached 976 Gbps by December 2023, compared to 840.2 Gbps in December 2022. ZICTA said that “the increase in transmission capacity in 2023 was partly attributed to the contribution by BCS and Global Connect who brought on board fibre transmission capacities of 100 Gbps and 238 Gbps during the year”. ZICTA also reported that the total fibre inventory of Zambia reached 31,915-km by December 2023, including Fibrecom (12,000-km), Telesonic (6,544-km), Bayobab (5,905-km), Zamtel (1,876-km), Liquid (1,420-km), BCS (1,166.5-km), Paratus (700-km), and Smartnet (2,260-km). The regulator said that collaboration between MTN and Airtel... Read More →


Africa: Airtel Africa Telesonic Total Fibre Network in Africa Reaches 75,400-Km, Activates 2Africa Submarine Cable Route From Kenya to South Africa

Leading mobile operator Airtel Africa announced that it has added some 5,000-km of new terrestrial fibre optic transmission networks to its operations across Africa in the last year, increasing its total fibre inventory to 75,400-km by March 2024 (source: 2024 Annual Report). Airtel Africa has deployed fibre networks across the 14 countries in which it operates in sub-Saharan Africa: Chad, Congo, DRC, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.  The operator previously reported a total fibre inventory of 70,500-km in March 2023, 64,500-km in March 2022, 54,500-km in March 2021, and 43,000-km in March 2020 (see Africa: Airtel Africa’s Total Fibre Network In Africa reaches 70,500-km). During February 2024, Airtel Africa announced the launch of a subsidiary company called Airtel Africa Telesonic Ltd (Telesonic) to leverage its terrestrial fibre optic cable and submarine cable assets to provide wholesale data services in Africa (see... Read More →


Mauritius: International Bandwidth of Mauritius Increases By 24% During 2023

The used international Internet bandwidth of Mauritius reached 292.549 Gbps by December 2023, a 24% increase compared to 235.682 Gbps in December 2022, according to latest statistics reported by the Information and Communication Technology Authority of Mauritius (ICTA) (see Mauritius: International Bandwidth of Mauritius Reaches 236 Gbps, December 2022). ICTA previously reported 211.312 Gbps of used international Internet bandwidth by December 2021, 144.973 Gbps in 2020, 101.657 Gbps in 2019, and 64.977 Gbps in 2018. Mauritius is now served by four international submarine cables, with a fifth under planning: South Africa Far East (SAFE) cable which entered service in 2002, Lower Indian Ocean (LION) cable in 2009, METISS (MElting poT Indianoceanic Submarine System) cable in 2021 (see Africa: METISS Submarine Cable Enters Service Connecting Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar to South Africa), and the troisième cable (T3) in 2023 (see Mauritius: Mauritius Telecom Starts Deployment Of T3 Cable... Read More →


Morocco: Morocco’s International Bandwidth Reaches 4.543 Tbps, Dec 2023

Morocco’s utilized international Internet bandwidth reached 4.543 Tbps in December 2023, according to latest statistics released by Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications (ANRT), compared to 4.557 Tbps in 2022. Morocco’s international bandwidth was 2.951 Tbps in 2021, 2.507 Tbps in 2020, 1.970 Tbps in 2019, 1.508 Tbps in 2018, and 1.125 Tbps in 2017 according to ANRT (see also Morocco: Morocco’s International Bandwidth Reaches 4.5 Tbps, Dec 2022). ANRT report that the 4.543 Tbps of utilized capacity in December 2023 was 44% of 10.4 Tbps of the total equipped capacity available. Maroc Telecom is connected to five submarine cables: Tetouan – Estepona (1994), Atlas Offshore (2007), SEA-ME-WE3 (2009), Loukkos (2012), and the West Africa cable (2021) (see also Morocco: Maroc Telecom West Africa Submarine Cable Enters Service During 2021). The operator reported that the combined capacity on these five submarine cables reached 6.925 Tbps in 2022, compared to 4.230... Read More →


Tunisia: Tunisia’s International Bandwidth Reaches 1.880 Tbps, Dec 2023

Tunisia’s international Internet bandwidth reached 1.880 Tbps in December 2023, according to latest statistics published by Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (INTT), a growth rate of 7% compared to 1.750 Tbps in December 2022 (see Tunisia: Tunisia: Tunisia’s International Bandwidth Increases By 58% During 2022). Of this total equipped capacity of 1.880 Tbps, INTT report that 1.113 Tbps was utilised by December 2023, compared to 1.088 Gbps in 2022. INTT previously reported that Tunisia’s international bandwidth was 1.110 Tbps in 2021, 910 Gbps in 2020, and 780 Gbps in 2019. Source: Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (INTT)  Read More →


Egypt: Telecom Egypt Lands India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) Submarine Cable

On 5 June 2024, Telecom Egypt announced the landing of the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) submarine cable in Egypt. The 10,000-km IEX cable will run from Mumbai (India) to Savona (Italy) with landings in Oman, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece. In Egypt, the cable landing stations at Zafarana2 on the Red Sea and Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean are connected with diversified terrestrial network across Egypt (see for example Egypt: Telecom Egypt Inaugurates Red2Med Submarine And Terrestrial Fibre Route). The IEX cable previously landed in Djibouti on 29 November 2023, and also at Savona (Italy) on 29 November 2023. “Leveraging its cutting-edge infrastructure, Telecom Egypt played a pivotal role in connecting the IEX subsea cable system terrestrially between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean,” said Mohamed Nasr, Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt in a company press release. “By providing landing and crossing services at Zafarana2 and Sidi Kerir landing stations, and linking them... Read More →


Africa: Google Announces Umoja Cable Connecting Africa With Australia

On 23 May 2024, Google announced that it plans to deploy a new terrestrial and submarine cable route called Umoja. Anchored in Kenya, the Umoja cable route will pass through Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, before crossing the Indian Ocean to Australia. Umoja’s terrestrial path was built in collaboration with Liquid Technologies to form a highly scalable route through Africa, including access points that will allow other countries to take advantage of the network. Umoja, which is the Swahili word for unity, joins the Equiano submarine cable in an initiative called Africa Connect. Google’s Equiano submarine cable entered service in 2023, has a design capacity of 144 Tbps, and runs from South Africa (Melkosstrand, see also South Africa: Equiano Submarine Cable Lands In Melkosstrand, South Africa) to Portugal (Sesimbra) with landings in Namibia (Swakopmund), Nigeria (Lagos), Togo (Lome) and a spur to St Helena (Ruperts Beach, see... Read More →


DRC: DRC’s International Bandwidth Increases By 66% During 2023

The inbound international internet bandwidth of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reached 599.674 Gbps in December 2023, according to latest figures published by the ARPTC (Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications du Congo). This compared to 360.805 Gbps in December 2022, and 168.899 Gbps in December 2021 (see DRC: DRC’s International Bandwidth Increases By 114% To Reach 361 Gbps, Dec 2022). Even more significantly, the volume of outbound international bandwidth reached 673.467 Gbps in December 2023, compared to 438.485 Gbps in December 2022 and 114.420 Gbps in 2021. Outbound traffic overtook inbound traffic during 2022, driven by an increase in traffic to neighbouring countries. Whilst inbound international bandwidth increased by 66% during 2023, outbound bandwidth increased by 54%. Source: ARPTC  Read More →


Burundi: Burundi’s International Bandwidth Increases By 72% During 2023

Burundi’s international Internet bandwidth reached 26.130 Gbps in December 2023, according to latest statistics published by the Agence de Régulation et de Contrôle des Télécommunications (ARCT). The bandwidth of 26.130 Gbps in December 2023 was a 72% annual increase compared to 15.210 Gbps in 2022, 12.152 Gbps in 2021, 9.254 Gbps in 2020, 8.332 Gbps in 2019, and 6.425 Gbps in 2018 (see Burundi: Burundi’s International Bandwidth Reaches 15.2 Gbps, Dec 2022). Two operators provide international fibre connectivity to Burundi, Burundi Backbone System (BBS) and Viettel Burundi (Lumitel). Source: ARCT  Read More →


Rwanda: Rwanda’s International Bandwidth Increases By 75% During 2023

Rwanda’s equipped inbound international Internet bandwidth reached 328.384 Gbps in December 2023, according to latest figures published by the Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Agency (RURA). This was a 75% increase compared to 187.954 Gbps in December 2022, 155.127 Gbps in 2021, 125.510 Gbps in 2020, 98.480 Gbps in 2019, 54.874 Gbps in 2018, and 25.370 Gbps in 2017 (see Rwanda: Rwanda’s International Bandwidth Reaches 188 Gbps In 2022). Just over half of this equipped international bandwidth was actually utilized: according to RURA, Rwanda’s used international bandwidth was 185.270 Gbps in December 2023, compared to 108.273 Gbps in December 2022, compared to 80.013 Gbps in December 2021. Source: RURA  Read More →


Kenya: Kenya’s International Bandwidth Increases By 84% To Reach 8 Tbps During 2023

Kenya’s utilized international Internet bandwidth reached 8,042.08 Gbps in December 2023, according to latest statistics released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), an 84% increase compared to 4,364.13 Gbps in December 2022. Kenya’s utilized international bandwidth was 8,011.473 Gbps in September, 6,722.622 Gbps in June, and 5,162.023 Gbps in March 2023 according to the CA (see Kenya’s International Bandwidth Increases By 48% To Reach 4.4 Tbps By Dec 2022). This total 8,042.08 Gbps in December 2023 was split between 8,041.632 Gbps supplied by submarine cable and 0.448 Gbps supplied by satellite. In its latest quarterly report, CA says that in addition to 8,041.632 Gbps of international bandwidth used in Kenya, 2.953.82 Gbps was also sold to other countries. Source: Communications Authority of Kenya  Read More →


Algeria: Algeria’s International Bandwidth Reaches 3.360 Tbps, Dec 2023

Algeria’s international Internet bandwidth reached 3.360 Tbps by December 2023, according to latest statistics released by L'Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Communications Electroniques (ARPCE). This was a 4% increase compared to 3.220 Tbps in 2022, 2.000 Tbps in 2021, 1.710 Tbps in 2020, 1.150 Tbps in 2019, and 1.050 Tbps in 2018, according to ARPCE (see Algeria: Algeria’s International Bandwidth Increases By 61% During 2022). Source: ARPCE  Read More →


Kenya: Safaricom’s Fibre Network Reaches 14,000-Km

Kenya’s leading mobile operator Safaricom has reported that its fibre optic network reached 14,000-km in its 2023 annual report. The operator’s fibre deployment in the capital city Nairobi and at least 19 other towns across Kenya increased by 3,120-km during the year, compared with 10,880-km in 2022, 10,080-km in 2021, 9,000-km in 2020, 6,700-km in 2019, and 5,000-km in 2018 (see also Kenya: Safaricom’s Fibre Network Reaches 10,880-Km). The operator also said that it’s fibre-to-the-building (FTTB) network had reached 20,602 connections, and that its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network passed 465,558 homes, of which 275,657 homes were connected. Safaricom first announced plans to build its own terrestrial fibre optic network ten years ago in November 2011, and began the roll out of its metro fibre network during 2013 (see Kenya: Safaricom Plans To Build Its Own Terrestrial Fibre Optic Network in Kenya). In October 2017, Safaricom announced that it had started an FTTH Regional Roll Out... Read More →


Africa: Four West African Submarine Cables Damaged, Causing Temporary Internet Outages Across Twelve Countries

On 14 March 2024, network operators reported that four submarine cables had been damaged off the coast of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. These were the ACE, Main One, SAT-3 and WACS submarine cables, which run from South Africa and Nigeria to Europe and supply the bulk of Internet connectivity to West Africa. The breaks to these cables resulted in nationwide Internet outages in twelve countries across the region, with capacity incrementally returning as Internet traffic was restored via other cable systems until these damaged four cables can be repaired during April. “On Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 7:43 GMT, we experienced a fault on the MainOne network,” confirmed Main One in a press release. “Preliminary findings and further investigations revealed that the fault occurred most probably due to environmental factors such as landslides and earthquakes, that resulted in a cut on our submarine cable system, in the Atlantic Ocean, offshore Cote D’Ivoire, along the coast of West Africa.... Read More →