Kenya, 28 October 2025 - In a significant boost to Kenya’s position as a regional digital hub, Meta has appointed Safaricom as the landing partner for its latest high-capacity submarine cable connecting Kenya and Oman. The project is expected to greatly enhance internet connectivity, network resilience, and data capacity across East Africa.
The agreement, concluded through Meta’s infrastructure subsidiary Edge Network Services Limited, marks Meta’s second submarine cable to make landfall in Kenya. The system will be fully funded by Edge, with licensed operators in Kenya and Oman contracted to manage the sections within their territorial waters and handle all supporting infrastructure onshore.
For Safaricom, the partnership is both a milestone and a strategic statement. As the company marks 25 years in operation, it signals its readiness to evolve beyond its traditional telecommunications roots into a full-fledged technology enterprise.
Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said the partnership reinforces the company’s commitment to powering Kenya’s digital future. “This collaboration represents a major step in our transformation journey,” he noted. “It strengthens our ability to deliver faster, low-latency connectivity that supports innovation, economic growth, and digital inclusion in line with our Vision 2030 ambition.”
Safaricom’s Vision 2030 outlines a plan to become Africa’s leading purpose-driven technology company by the end of the decade. Central to that mission is building the digital infrastructure needed to support services such as cloud computing, fintech, and data-driven innovation across industries.
The upcoming undersea cable is expected to play a critical role in enabling that vision. With higher data transfer speeds, improved reliability, and lower latency, the system will not only improve consumer experiences but also empower enterprises that rely on continuous and secure internet connectivity.
Analysts say the partnership strengthens Kenya’s standing as an attractive destination for digital infrastructure investment, complementing other recent global projects that have landed in the country. The system’s additional bandwidth will help meet growing demand for data services driven by streaming, cloud adoption, and digital commerce.
For Meta, the investment underscores its long-term commitment to expanding connectivity in Africa and supporting the growth of the digital economy.
As the project moves forward, the collaboration between Meta and Safaricom is expected to lay the foundation for a more connected and competitive Africa, one where high-speed internet becomes a driver of innovation, opportunity, and inclusive development.
