Meta has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider, to deploy its second submarine cable in the East African nation. The deal marks a significant milestone in Africa’s digital infrastructure development and underscores the growing importance of high-capacity connectivity across the continent.
Strategic Partnership Details
Through its subsidiary, Edge Network Services Limited, Meta has officially signed Safaricom as the landing partner for a new high-capacity submarine cable that will connect Oman and Kenya. This infrastructure investment is poised to dramatically enhance internet connectivity and support the region’s rapidly growing digital economy.
Safaricom’s Vision for Digital Transformation
Speaking about the partnership, Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, emphasized the strategic significance of this collaboration:
“This deal is a significant strategic milestone for us at Safaricom as we mark 25 years and signals our readiness to transition into a fully-fledged tech company in line with our vision 2030 strategy. It positions us to meet the surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity which is critical for powering economic growth, cloud adoption, and digital innovation.”
The agreement reinforces Safaricom’s commitment to delivering faster, more resilient, and future-proof connectivity solutions aligned with its ambitious goal to become Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.
Investment and Infrastructure
The undersea cable system will be fully funded by Edge Network Services Limited, Meta’s infrastructure subsidiary. Under the partnership terms:
- Locally licensed operators in both Kenya and Oman will be contracted to operate the cable segment within their respective territorial waters
- All associated in-country infrastructure will be managed by these local operators
- The partnership ensures sustainable operations while maintaining local expertise and regulatory compliance
Impact on Digital Innovation
This strategic partnership positions Safaricom at the forefront of digital transformation in East Africa, empowering:
- Businesses with enhanced cloud computing capabilities
- Communities with improved internet access and digital services
- Consumers with the bandwidth needed to thrive in an increasingly connected world
The new submarine cable will support the surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity, which is essential for:
Remote work and digital collaboration tools
Economic growth and digital commerce
Cloud adoption and data center operations
Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications
Video streaming and content delivery
