Bayobab connects Africa’s Western digital corridor

2Africa West marks the fulfilment of Bayobab’s vision for a more connected Africa. As a proud MTN Group Company, Bayobab is honoured to be the first to activate this groundbreaking route.

2Africa West provides high-speed, low-latency connectivity to markets along Africa’s western coast, supporting a fair and inclusive digital transformation

A continent connected

2Africa West is part of the larger 2Africa system, the world’s longest subsea cable, spanning 45,000 km and linking 33 countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia. The western segment extends this global network into critical African markets, connecting Yzerfontein and Duynefontein in South Africa; Lagos and Kwa Ibo in Nigeria; Accra in Ghana; and Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. The cable also reaches landings in the Republic of Congo and continues to Portugal and the UK. With landings in these strategic markets, Bayobab has invested in the highest number of 2Africa landing sites of any service provider on the continent, reinforcing its leadership in subsea infrastructure. Each landing enhances regional connectivity, linking customers to major data centres and terrestrial networks, and provides redundancy to deliver uninterrupted service to hyperscalers, mobile network operators, internet service providers, and others.

Built for scale and speed

2Africa West has been designed to meet Africa’s growing digital demands, supporting high-bandwidth applications. Bayobab can offer customised capacity solutions for customers requiring scale. This low-latency infrastructure provides the foundation for cloud computing and AI, ensuring long-term growth and future scalability. The cable’s burial depth has been increased by 50% compared with previous systems, while the route avoids high-risk areas to maximise reliability and availability.

Open access, shared opportunity

As with the wider 2Africa network, Bayobab provides capacity on an open-access, carrier-neutral basis. Service providers can acquire capacity through carrier-neutral data centres or open-access cable landing stations along the system. By eliminating exclusivity, 2Africa West encourages collaboration, expands opportunities for African operators, and promotes competitive pricing. Bayobab’s partnerships extend globally, allowing connections to additional systems along the east coast and beyond. This enables customers to access a pan-African network capable of linking both coasts on a single infrastructure.

Empowering a digital ecosystem

2Africa West is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital future. By expanding access to high-speed, high-capacity connectivity, Bayobab supports the deployment of 4G and 5G networks and drives innovation in sectors such as fintech and e-commerce. It enables governments, businesses, and communities to engage fully in the digital economy. The launch symbolises African unity and global progress. From South Africa to Côte d’Ivoire and beyond, the western route connects millions through resilient digital infrastructure, ready to power Africa’s next chapter of growth.