Did you know that the world's longest subsea cable measures 45,000 kilometers long and will connect 33 African countries by the completion of the project in 2024?

Meta's 2Africa subsea cable, the longest ever deployed worldwide, and which is 45,000 kilometers long is a deep-sea cable project that will connect 33 African countries, delivering reliable connectivity and internet services across three continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. The system, together with its PEARLS extension, will deliver connectivity to around three billion people when finished, representing 36 percent of the global population.

The 2Africa subsea cable will directly support economic development in Africa, fostering further growth of 4G and 5G and increased broadband penetration to millions of people and businesses across the African continent. The record-breaking cable system will also promote a surge in information exchange and digital business development, helping to foster the next growth stage in many of the economies it connects.

The construction of the cable was awarded to the French company ASN (Alcatel Submarine Networks). In 2019 the company announced its plans with Meta (Facebook) to introduce an aluminum conductor in optical fiber cables as the most cost-effective submarine method. The press release stated that the cable variant had already been selected for a ‘major long-distance project’ however it has not been stated whether this project was the 2Africa cable.

The 2Africa PEARLS branch, extending to the Arabian Gulf, India, and Pakistan, brings the total length of the 2Africa cable system to over 45,000 kilometers, making it the longest subsea cable system ever deployed.

2Africa creates unique connectivity by adding vital landing locations in Oman (Barka), UAE (Abu Dhabi and Kalba), Qatar (Doha), Bahrain (Manama), Kuwait (Kuwait), Iraq (Al-Faw), Pakistan (Karachi), India (Mumbai), and a fourth landing in Saudi Arabia (Al Khobar). The new 2Africa branch also have extensions to the Canary Islands, the Seychelles, Comoros Islands, Angola, and Nigeria.

2Africa is not the only subsea cable to land on the African continent. In March 2023, Google’s Equiano cable landed in Togo and Nigeria, featuring 12 fiber pairs and linking Portugal to South Africa. The PEACE cable has also landed in Mombasa, Kenya.

The consortium behind the 2Africa subsea cable is made up of several companies, including Meta (Facebook), China Mobile International, MTN Global Connect, Orange, Vodafone, Egypt Telecom, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), and the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC).

The deep-sea cable will go a long way towards transforming the Africa's connectivity landscape.

Hundreds of submarine cables rest on the sea floor around the world, facilitating the constant connection of companies and boosting international trade. This is an essential resource for global business, as it allows the Internet to reach all corners of the planet, since wireless technology and satellite connections don’t have the same reliability and speed in data transmission. This improved performance is fostering the continuous spread of cables with private and public capital.

SOURCES: Business Insider | MTN | Arab News | Teletimes International | Mapfre Global Risks

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