Paratus launches protected 2,000 km fiber route linking Mombasa to Goma

Paratus Group has activated a major new fibre corridor in East Africa, establishing a direct terrestrial connection between Mombasa in Kenya and Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The newly launched G2M, or Goma-to-Mombasa, route spans approximately 2,000 km and is built as a protected network to ensure resilience and continuity of service.

The fibre link passes through Kigali in Rwanda, Kampala in Uganda and Nairobi in Kenya, with direct connections into strategically located data centres along the route. Already operational and carrying live traffic for its first wholesale customers, the infrastructure is engineered to provide high-capacity, reliable connectivity for carriers, internet service providers and enterprises operating across multiple borders.

This deployment deepens Paratus’ presence in East Africa, forming a seamless regional network that connects inland markets to international subsea cable systems landing on the coast. Delivered in collaboration with ROKE TELKOM in Uganda and MoveOn Telecoms in Kenya, the project is supported by Paratus’ fully licensed subsidiaries in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. The G2M route also integrates with the Group’s low earth orbit footprint across Goma, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.

For operators and enterprises in eastern DRC and neighbouring markets, the new route provides enhanced access to global connectivity, improved redundancy and lower latency, creating stronger conditions for digital expansion and economic participation.

The addition of the G2M link complements Paratus’ broader East–West backbone, which extends from Maputo in Mozambique to Swakopmund in Namibia and connects with the Equiano subsea cable system. Together, these assets enable low-latency, high-capacity links between Africa and Europe, positioning Paratus among the limited number of providers delivering integrated regional and cross-continental connectivity through a single network.

Martin Cox, Chief Commercial Officer of Paratus Group, says the G2M route is a critical step in enabling East Africa’s digital economy.

“This is far more than another fiber link – it’s a new digital highway for the region,” says Cox. “By creating a protected route from the coast all the way into Goma, we’re giving operators and enterprises direct, reliable access to global capacity. It dramatically improves resilience and performance, while opening new commercial opportunities across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.”

“Our strategy has always been about connecting the dots across Africa with quality, contiguous infrastructure. The G2M route strengthens everything we’ve already built in East Africa and makes Paratus the natural connectivity partner for businesses that operate across borders.”

Home to more than 200 million people, East Africa remains one of the continent’s fastest-growing economic regions, with strong expansion across fintech, manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture and ICT. As digital adoption accelerates, demand for secure, enterprise-grade connectivity, cloud services and managed solutions continues to rise.

Through offerings that include dedicated internet access, cloud platforms, data centre services, managed networks and cybersecurity solutions, Paratus aims to provide the infrastructure backbone required to support regional trade, innovation and digital transformation.

As Cox concludes: “Digital infrastructure today is as critical as traditional trade routes were in the past. We’re building the networks that make modern commerce possible – and this new route is a key part of that future.”

100G DWDM connectivity between African data centres

Smartoptics has teamed up with regional partner HardwareCo to support Teraco’s deployment of redundant 100G DWDM links between its CT1 and CT2 data centres in Cape Town

The new high-capacity connection reinforces a critical digital corridor that supports Africa’s expanding cloud, content, connectivity and financial ecosystems, delivering low-latency and cost-efficient access along one of South Africa’s fastest-growing bandwidth routes.

Teraco, a Digital Realty company, operates seven data centres across South Africa and serves as the country’s largest vendor-neutral data centre platform. With more than 650 customers and over 27,000 interconnects, the company plays a central role in enabling secure and direct data exchange for cloud providers, global content networks, telecom operators and financial institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Growing demand from customers for 100G connectivity between the CT1 and CT2 facilities led Teraco to increase backbone capacity. Smartoptics’ compact 1U DWDM solution was selected for its efficient use of space and power, while also improving fibre utilisation and offering greater operational flexibility through breakout functionality.

“As Africa moves from 10G to 100G, DWDM equipment licensing fees have become a real blocker for many,” commented Michele McCann, head of platforms, Teraco Data Environments. “That’s why Smartoptics’ open approach immediately stood out to us. There are no hidden licenses or vendor restrictions, and it’s so intuitive that our IP engineers could operate it after just a single day of training – without needing to become optical transmission experts. This flexibility and ease of use let us scale fast without worrying about pluggable compatibility or hiring more staff to manage it.”

The rollout was delivered in partnership with HardwareCo, Smartoptics’ regional partner for projects across Africa. The deployment was completed quickly and without service disruption, demonstrating how open DWDM architectures can reduce complexity, shorten deployment timelines and allow operators like Teraco to retain full in-house control of their optical infrastructure.

“We are very proud to support Teraco in achieving their high-capacity connectivity between CT1 and CT2, and very excited to have partnered with Smartoptics for this”, says Mark Tinka, managing director at HardwareCo.

“We selected Smartoptics as our key DWDM technology partner because of their unique approach to optical networking that is based on open standards and open architectures. This has democratized access to DWDM technology in a way that uniquely aligns with the challenges and goals of developing regions like Africa”.

Looking ahead, Smartoptics highlights the importance of efficient inland transport as new subsea cable capacity continues to land along Africa’s coastlines.

“Africa’s coastal regions are seeing huge new waves of subsea capacity, but getting that bandwidth inland efficiently is the next big challenge. Teraco’s investment shows how open optical networking with no license fees can bridge that gap, enabling scalable, cost-effective transport that matches the continent’s growth and future demand. We’re proud to support Teraco in this effort together with HardwareCo, helping make Africa’s data routes as open and dynamic as its digital ambitions and signalling that the region is ready for global-scale platforms,” concluded Magnus Grenfeldt, CEO, Smartoptics.

Global leaders push for stronger submarine cable resilience

Governments, industry stakeholders and international organisations representing more than 70 countries have reaffirmed the importance of strengthening support for submarine cables, the critical infrastructure underpinning global digital communications

The commitment was reinforced at the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit 2026, held in Porto, Portugal.

At the close of the summit, participants endorsed a declaration alongside a set of recommendations developed by the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience. The guidance is intended to enhance cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders, with measures ranging from reducing repair times to improving connectivity resilience in underserved regions.

Submarine telecommunications cables carry the vast majority of global data traffic. Around 500 cables spanning more than 1.7 million km form the backbone of global connectivity, supporting economic growth, social development and digital access for individuals, institutions and businesses worldwide.

“When it comes to critical digital infrastructure like submarine cables, resilience is both an end-to-end imperative and a shared responsibility," said ITU secretary-general Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

“The Porto Summit outcomes reaffirm our commitment to strengthening global cooperation that can make a real difference in policy engagement, operational readiness, and investment decisions."

The summit was organised by Portugal’s national communications regulator, ANACOM, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). It also hosted a meeting of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience, established by ITU and ICPC in 2024.

“I am deeply proud to have had the unique opportunity to guide such a distinguished group of leaders from both the public and private sectors, representing all regions of the world," said Sandra Maximiano, chairwoman of ANACOM and Co-Chair of the Advisory Body.

“The International Advisory Body was created to deliver concrete and meaningful impact, and I firmly believe it is already doing so. This impact is particularly significant for regions, countries, and remote islands where economic incentives for rapid response mechanisms are more limited, rendering them especially vulnerable to submarine cable disruptions."

Building on the inaugural summit held in Abuja, Nigeria, last year, the Porto gathering marked the second in-person meeting of the Advisory Body.

The recommendations presented in Porto focus on streamlining submarine cable permitting, maintenance and repair processes, improving legal and regulatory frameworks, and promoting geographic diversity and redundancy. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening resilience for Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and other underserved regions.

Additional guidance encourages the adoption of industry best practices for risk assessment and response, improved cable protection through better marine planning, and increased investment in training, innovation and new technologies. Comprehensive reports based on the Advisory Body’s work are expected to be released later in the year.

“It is encouraging to see the cooperation between governments and industry in developing these recommendations," said ICPC Chairman Dean Veverka. “We look forward to their implementation to strengthen cable protection and resilience."

Subsea cables carry more than 99% of international data traffic, with over 200 cable faults reported globally each year. Disruptions can have significant consequences for economies, public services and access to information, directly affecting the daily lives of billions of people around the world.

Partnership strengthens digital access for timbuktoo University Innovation Pods in Sierra Leone and The Gambia. (Image source: UNDP)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has entered into a partnership with Africell to strengthen digital connectivity at timbuktoo University Innovation Pods (UniPods) in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, supporting young innovators with the infrastructure needed to develop and scale impactful solutions

Under the collaboration, Africell will supply critical digital connectivity services to the UniPods, including 4G MiFi devices, high-speed internet access, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. These resources will enable students and early-stage innovators to design, test, and expand solutions addressing both local and global development challenges.

Ziad Dalloul, Africell Group CEO and president of the Africell Impact Foundation, commented, “This collaboration plays to everyone’s strengths by combining Africell’s connectivity expertise with UNDP’s innovation network. By equipping the UniPods in Sierra Leone and The Gambia with Africell’s signature internet services, we are investing in young Africans and helping to turn raw talent into successful enterprise”.

The partnership extends beyond connectivity provision. UNDP and Africell will jointly develop innovation and accelerator programmes aimed at increasing participation within the UniPods and enhancing their long-term social and economic impact. These initiatives will draw on robotics, entrepreneurship, and digital skills training already delivered by the Africell Impact Foundation through its network of learning centres across West Africa.

The agreement aligns with UNDP’s broader objective of strengthening Africa’s locally driven innovation ecosystem through the timbuktoo initiative, which focuses on unlocking opportunities for young entrepreneurs and technology-driven startups across the continent.

Emphasising the importance of access to digital infrastructure, Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant UN Secretary General and Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, said, “Digital inclusion is key to Africa’s innovation future. This partnership expands digital access and gives young innovators the connectivity they need to turn ideas into impactful solutions. When we invest in young people’s talents and remove barriers to opportunity, we accelerate Africa’s path to competitiveness, and inclusive growth”.

UNDP’s UniPods are advanced maker and innovation spaces hosted within public universities, designed to equip young people with the tools, technologies, and skills required to transform ideas into market-ready products and services. The UniPods form part of UNDP’s wider timbuktoo programme, which also includes Policy Labs and several thematic industry hubs located in major African cities, all aimed at catalysing investment and innovation across the continent.