Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecommunications provider, is reportedly seeking authorization from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to construct its own undersea cable, as revealed by a recent report in the Business Daily.
The CA, the country’s independent ICT regulator, has acknowledged Safaricom’s application for undersea cable landing rights, which would grant the company the ability to operate and maintain submarine cables landing in Kenya.
If approved, this initiative could significantly enhance Safaricom’s capacity to deliver high-speed internet services, improve network reliability, and reduce its reliance on external cable operators.
Under the leadership of CEO Peter Ndengwa, Safaricom would become the first Kenyan telco to invest in its own undersea cable infrastructure.
Currently, the company depends on third-party providers such as SEACOM, the East African Submarine System (Eassy), TEAMS, and Telkom Kenya for its international bandwidth needs.
In Kenya, the CA oversees the allocation of subsea cable landing rights. Reports indicate that Safaricom has already established a consortium to develop the multibillion-dollar undersea internet cable project.
This move comes in the wake of last year’s disruptions caused by undersea cable cuts, which forced Safaricom to purchase additional bandwidth from other providers.
The incident, which occurred at the Mtunzini teleport station, affected several key cables serving Kenya, including SEACOM and Eassy, leading to service interruptions.
Safaricom’s application is also viewed as a strategic response to growing competition in the internet services market, particularly from emerging satellite-based providers like Starlink.
Despite Safaricom’s dominant position in the market, with over 550,000 fixed broadband connections, Starlink’s entry into Kenya in July 2023 has intensified competition.
The satellite internet service has seen a rapid increase in subscriptions since its launch, posing a challenge to traditional mobile operators.
If successful, Safaricom’s venture into undersea cable ownership could mark a significant milestone for the company, reinforcing its market leadership and further establishing Kenya as a key hub for internet connectivity in the region.
This development aligns with the country’s broader goals of enhancing digital infrastructure and fostering technological innovation.
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