Meta Platforms has signed a strategic agreement with Safaricom to establish the landing of its second submarine cable in Kenya. This emphasizes the country’s growing importance as a digital gateway for East Africa.
The deal, executed through Meta’s infrastructure arm Edge Network Services Limited. It will see Safaricom serve as the local landing partner for a new high-capacity undersea cable connecting Kenya and Oman. The system delivers lower latency and higher bandwidth connectivity critical foundations for data-intensive applications, cloud computing, and the region’s expanding digital economy.
Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa framed the agreement as a key milestone in the telco’s evolution. “This deal is a significant strategic milestone for us as we mark 25 years. It signals our readiness to transition into a fully-fledged tech company.” He said, highlighting the need to meet surging data demand across Kenya’s business and consumer segments.
Expanding Africa Footprint
While Meta will fully fund the system through Edge. Licensed operators in Kenya and Oman will handle operational mandates within territorial waters. The arrangement reflects a maturing model for cross-border digital infrastructure, balancing global investment with local regulatory and operational oversight.
For Meta, the expansion extends its ongoing efforts to deepen connectivity in Africa. It complements prior projects such as the 2Africa cable one of the largest subsea systems encircling the continent. Industry observers note that the partnership reinforces Meta’s dual ambition: strengthening network resilience for its platforms while enabling broader access to digital infrastructure that can accelerate regional growth.
Analysts see the move as strategically timed. With cloud adoption, fintech ecosystems, and AI-driven services accelerating across Africa, high-capacity links like the Kenya–Oman cable are becoming essential arteries for economic competitiveness. For Kenya, it bolsters its role as a regional digital hub one increasingly defined by infrastructure depth, not just mobile penetration.
