Through its subsidiary, Edge Network Services Limited, Meta has partnered with Safaricom to land its second high-capacity submarine cable, Daraja, which will connect Oman and Kenya.
The Daraja submarine cable spans 4,108 kilometers, interconnecting landings at Salalah in Oman and Mombasa in Kenya, making it a new high-capacity submarine cable system with 24 fiber pairs.
The Daraja submarine cable project is expected to cost USD 23 million (KSH 2.98 billion), will be fully funded by Meta’s subsidiary Edge Network Services, and will be supplied by Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN). It is scheduled to be ready for service in 2026. Safaricom, a locally licensed operator in Kenya, has been contracted to operate the cable segment within its territorial waters, as well as all associated in-country infrastructure.
“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,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.
This is Meta’s second submarine cable connecting Kenya, following the 2Africa cable system, the longest submarine cable in the world. Meta is one of the members of the 2Africa consortium.
The strategic partnership reinforces Safaricom’s commitment to deliver faster, more resilient, and future-proof connectivity in line with its vision to be Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030. It also positions the company at the forefront of digital transformation, empowering businesses, communities, and consumers with the bandwidth they need to thrive in a connected world.
Read More: Bridging Continents: Digital Services and Submarine Cables for Africa
