Evolution of Undersea Cables Connecting Africa: Key Milestones and Impact

Africa’s digital transformation is closely tied to a lesser-known but crucial piece of infrastructure: undersea fiber-optic cables. These cables carry over 95% of international internet traffic. For Africa, the rollout of these cables transformed the continent from an isolated, high-cost connectivity zone to a region with growing global bandwidth and digital potential.

Here’s a breakdown of how undersea cables evolved around Africa, the major milestones, and the real-world impact on internet access and affordability.

Pre-2000s: Satellite Dependency and the Bandwidth Bottleneck

Before undersea cables, most African countries relied heavily on satellite connections for international communications. These links were:

• Expensive

• High-latency (slow for data transmission)

• Limited in bandwidth

This made internet access in Africa slow, unreliable, and unaffordable for most people. A single Mbps could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month.

2001: SAT-3/WASC/SAFE – Africa’s First Major Undersea Cable

🌍 Coverage: West Coast (Portugal to South Africa), extending to Asia

The SAT-3/WASC/SAFE cable was the first major step in connecting sub-Saharan Africa to the global internet via fiber.

• Countries connected: Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, South Africa, among others.

• Challenges: SAT-3 was controlled by a consortium of telecom monopolies. High prices and lack of competition meant benefits were slow to reach users.

Impact: While SAT-3 was a breakthrough technically, its real impact was limited by lack of open access and restrictive pricing.

2009: SEACOM and TEAMS – Breaking the Monopoly

🌍 Coverage:

• SEACOM: Connects South and East Africa to Europe and India

• TEAMS: Links Kenya to the UAE

These two cables marked a turning point:

• SEACOM was privately funded and focused on open access.

• TEAMS was a public-private partnership backed by the Kenyan government.

Impact:

• Dramatic drop in wholesale bandwidth prices—up to 90% in some regions.

• Explosion in internet use, especially in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

• Entry of new ISPs and better competition.

2010–2012: EASSy and WACS Expand Capacity

🌍 EASSy (Eastern Africa Submarine System):

• Connected nine East African countries from Sudan to South Africa.

🌍 WACS (West Africa Cable System):

• Ran from South Africa to the UK, boosting bandwidth for West Africa.

Impact:

• Broadened access to international capacity.

• Reduced reliance on SAT-3.

• Helped countries like Mozambique, Madagascar, and Namibia get better internet performance.

By 2012, most African coastal countries had at least one undersea cable connection—many had two or more.

2018–2023: The Megaprojects – Equiano and 2Africa

🌍 Equiano (Google):

• Announced in 2019, went live in segments by 2023.

• Runs from Portugal to South Africa, branching into Nigeria and Namibia.

• Uses space-division multiplexing (SDM) for 20x more capacity.

🌍 2Africa (Meta/Facebook, China Mobile, Orange, etc.):

• One of the largest subsea cable projects in the world.

• Will circle the African continent, linking 33 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

• Expected completion: 2024–2025.

Impact:

• Massive increase in capacity.

• Improved redundancy—if one cable goes down, others can carry the load.

• Direct cable landings in many previously under-connected countries.

Current Landscape (2025)

As of 2025, Africa is served by over 15 major undersea cables, including:

• SAT-3/WASC/SAFE

• SEACOM

• TEAMS

• EASSy

• WACS

• MainOne

• ACE

• Equiano

• 2Africa (partially live)

Most coastal countries now have access to multiple landing points, increasing resilience and market competition.

Key Impacts of Undersea Cables on Africa

1. Cheaper Bandwidth

Wholesale internet costs dropped by up to 95% in some regions compared to satellite-era prices.

2. Faster Internet

Latency improved dramatically, especially for traffic routed to Europe and Asia. This made streaming, cloud services, and online learning viable.

3. More Competition

Multiple cables meant multiple providers could enter the market, forcing incumbents to lower prices and improve service.

4. Tech Ecosystem Growth

Lower connectivity costs enabled the rise of tech hubs, startups, and digital services in places like Nairobi, Lagos, and Cape Town.

5. Regional Data Centers

With reliable international connections, local data centers became feasible. Africa’s data center footprint is now growing rapidly, especially in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.

6. Better Redundancy

Multiple cables reduced the risk of total outages. When one cable is cut (due to ship anchors, earthquakes, etc.), others can pick up the slack.

Remaining Gaps and Challenges

Despite all this progress, a few issues remain:

• Landlocked countries still depend on neighbors for international access, which raises prices and vulnerability.

• Inland fiber networks (from the coast to rural or interior regions) are underdeveloped in many countries.

• Monopolistic control still exists at some landing stations, especially in countries with weak regulation.

• Political instability and corruption can delay or derail infrastructure projects.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Africa’s Subsea Connectivity

The next few years will likely focus on:

• Expanding 2Africa to full operation.

• Strengthening terrestrial backhaul to distribute international capacity more widely.

• Encouraging open access policies at landing stations to level the playing field.

• Adding more direct international routes, such as to Latin America or Southeast Asia, reducing dependency on European exchanges.

Conclusion

Undersea cables changed everything for Africa’s internet. From being tethered to costly satellite connections, the continent now enjoys access to some of the fastest, highest-capacity infrastructure available. While challenges remain—especially in inland and rural areas—the cable revolution has laid the foundation for a digitally connected Africa.

The evolution of these cables is not just a technical story. It’s a story about inclusion, opportunity, and the potential for over a billion people to access the global digital economy.

Timeline of Internet Infrastructure Development in Africa (1960s–2025)

The internet’s rise in Africa is a story of late starts, systemic challenges, bursts of innovation, and gradual progress. From a near-zero digital footprint in the 1960s to today’s connected cities and emerging digital economies, Africa’s internet infrastructure has come a long way. This timeline breaks down the key developments by decade, tracking how the continent moved from limited connectivity to becoming one of the most promising digital growth regions globally.

1960s–1980s: The Pre-Internet Era — Foundations and Isolation

In the 1960s and 1970s, most African nations were either newly independent or still under colonial rule. Infrastructure priorities were basic—roads, electricity, water. Telecommunications were minimal and focused on voice networks, mainly for government or elite use.

Key Points:

• Limited telecom infrastructure: Only a few cities had reliable telephone lines.
• International links: Countries communicated internationally via undersea voice cables and satellite.
• Little to no computing infrastructure: Computers were rare, limited to universities or government departments.

Why it mattered: These decades laid the groundwork for eventual digital growth. Early infrastructure decisions would later influence how and where internet services could be introduced.

1990s: The First Connections

The 1990s marked Africa’s first real exposure to the internet. It was slow, expensive, and highly centralized, but the foundation was finally laid.

Milestones:

• 1991–1995: The first African countries connect to the internet. South Africa leads, followed by Egypt, Tunisia, and Senegal.
• 1996: Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and several others begin to get basic access through dial-up services.
• 1998: The African Internet Service Providers Association (AfrISPA) is founded to advocate for more infrastructure.

Challenges:

• Bandwidth was extremely limited.
• Most data traffic had to go through Europe or the U.S., even for African-to-African communication.
• High costs and limited availability made internet access a luxury.

Highlight: In 1996, the total internet bandwidth for all of Africa was less than that of a small U.S. city.

2000s: Mobile Growth and Undersea Cables

This decade brought major shifts. Two developments pushed Africa forward: the mobile revolution and undersea fiber-optic cables.

Key Milestones:

• Mobile Phones Boom (early 2000s): Cellular networks began spreading fast. Mobile phones quickly outpaced fixed lines.
• 2001: The SAT-3/WASC/SAFE undersea cable goes live, linking southern and western Africa to Europe and Asia.
• 2008–2009: SEACOM and TEAMS cables launch, bringing fast, cheap bandwidth to East Africa.

Impacts:

• Countries like Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt became regional internet hubs.
• The reduction in latency and cost made internet cafes, corporate broadband, and even home access more viable.
• Mobile operators began offering data services, creating the groundwork for mobile internet adoption.

By 2010, Africa had over 100 million mobile subscribers, and internet penetration was inching upward.

2010s: The Rise of Mobile Internet and Local Infrastructure

The 2010s were a turning point. Affordable smartphones, social media, mobile money, and digital services fueled a new wave of demand. Infrastructure responded, albeit unevenly across the continent.

Infrastructure Developments:

• Data centers: Countries like South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya began building local data centers.
• Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): More countries set up IXPs to route local traffic locally, improving speed and reducing cost.
• Fiber Expansion: Telecoms and governments pushed national fiber backbone projects in Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and others.
• 4G Launches: Mobile networks rolled out 4G services, though adoption remained slow in many rural areas.

Key Moments:

• 2011: Nigeria establishes its IXP in Lagos.
• 2013: Google launches Project Link in Uganda (now part of CSquared), providing metro fiber infrastructure.
• 2016: Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi program launches in Kenya, expanding public access.
• Late 2010s: Rise of tech hubs—over 600 active hubs by 2020—indicate a vibrant, tech-enabled youth population.

Remaining Gaps:

• Many rural areas remained disconnected or poorly served.
• International capacity grew, but local distribution lagged.
• Electricity shortages limited reliability.

2020–2025: Acceleration, Satellites, and Digital Transformation

The 2020s so far have seen a mix of rapid progress and persistent gaps. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the internet’s importance, pushing governments and companies to invest more in digital infrastructure.

Major Trends:

• Satellite Internet: Starlink and other Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services started rolling out in countries like Nigeria, Rwanda, and Kenya.
• 5G Trials and Launches: South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya have begun 5G rollouts, though availability is still very limited.
• Digital ID and E-Government: Countries like Ghana and Kenya advanced digital ID systems to improve public service delivery.
• Data Center Growth: Pan-African players like Africa Data Centres, Raxio, and Teraco have expanded capacity.
• Fiber and Metro Networks: Companies like Liquid Intelligent Technologies extended fiber across central Africa, connecting remote regions.

Big Moves:

• 2021: Google announces Equiano undersea cable, set to connect Portugal to South Africa, with branches to Nigeria and Namibia.
• 2022: Facebook (Meta) completes part of the 2Africa cable project, one of the largest undersea cables planned for Africa.
• 2023: African Union launches the “Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa,” aiming for full digital inclusion by 2030.

Current State in 2025 (Projected and Real-Time)

As of 2025, Africa’s internet infrastructure is far from complete—but it’s in a different league than just a decade ago.

Stats and Projections:

• Internet Penetration: Over 50% of Africans are online, though usage and quality vary widely.
• Mobile-first: Most people access the internet via smartphones, not desktops.
• Urban vs Rural Divide: Urban areas enjoy decent 4G or even 5G access, but rural regions still struggle with 3G or patchy coverage.
• Cross-border Fiber: East and West Africa have increasingly interconnected national networks, but central regions still lag.
• Affordability: While costs have dropped, data remains expensive relative to income in many places.

Challenges Ahead

Even with progress, several issues still slow internet infrastructure development:

1. Last-Mile Connectivity: The hardest part is getting internet into homes and villages. Fiber and mobile networks often stop at city limits.
2. Power Supply: Unreliable electricity makes it hard to run network equipment consistently, especially in rural areas.
3. Policy and Regulation: Some countries still suffer from outdated telecom policies, excessive licensing, or monopolies.
4. Local Content and Skills: Infrastructure is only part of the picture—digital literacy, local content, and trust in digital services matter too.
5. Cybersecurity and Data Protection: As connectivity increases, so do threats. Regulation is still catching up.

Looking Forward: What’s Next?

Africa is at a tipping point. The basic infrastructure is largely in place or in progress, and the conversation is shifting toward digital inclusion, affordability, and innovation.

Trends to Watch:

• Public-private partnerships will play a bigger role in rural connectivity.
• AI and IoT adoption will increase demand for high-capacity networks.
• Youth-led tech startups will continue driving innovation if infrastructure keeps improving.
• Regional integration of internet markets could drive down costs and improve competition.

Conclusion

The development of internet infrastructure in Africa from the 1960s to 2025 has been uneven, but steady. From zero connectivity to over half the population online, the continent has made enormous strides. Challenges remain, but the foundation is now strong enough to support the next wave of innovation and growth.

If the momentum continues, Africa won’t just be catching up—it’ll help shape the future of the global internet.