Medusa Africa set to boost Cameroon’s digital connectivity

Cameroon has completed a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for participation in the Medusa Africa submarine cable system, according to Business in Cameroon

The MoU has been submitted to the Presidency for “High Approval”, marking the first step toward the State’s formal commitment to the project

The country’s investment in the initiative is estimated at CFA32.8 billion (approx. US$58.5mn). Medusa Africa represents the West African branch of the broader Medusa system, led by AFR-IX Telecom Group, a Barcelona-based operator already present in Cameroon through a local subsidiary. Co-funded by the European Union, the cable is scheduled to become operational in 2028, linking Southern Europe to the Maghreb and Africa’s Atlantic coast, with planned landing points in Dakar, Abidjan, Accra, Lagos, Kribi, Libreville, Luanda, and Cape Town.

The European Commission has granted €14.3 million through the CEF Digital programme to support the project, while the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has provided approximately US$1.5mn for a feasibility study to extend the system into Africa.

Cameroon currently connects to five international submarine cables—SAIL, WACS (West Africa Cable System), SAT-3/WASC, NCSCS, and Ceiba-2—with Camtel as the sole operator owning and managing these systems. SAIL, NCSCS, and Ceiba-2 connect Cameroon to Brazil, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea, while WACS and SAT-3/WASC provide connectivity to Europe, North Africa, and Southern Africa. Ceiba-2 also links Cameroon to the ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) cable through Equatorial Guinea.

Despite this network, Camtel reportedly uses only 16% of the combined capacity of its submarine cables. Individual usage rates vary: 6% for SAIL, 57% for WACS, 29% for SAT-3, and 92% for NCSCS. Business in Cameroon notes that this underutilisation raises questions about the regional market’s capacity to absorb additional bandwidth and the operator’s commercial strategy.

Camtel attributes the low utilisation to limited Internet penetration in the sub-region, contrasting earlier projections of high bandwidth demand. Additionally, 83% of African Internet traffic is directed toward Europe, reducing the attractiveness of the SAIL cable. High pricing for capacity to Europe and South Africa via WACS, SAT-3, and NCSCS has further discouraged traffic routing through SAIL. The recent activation of Equiano and 2Africa cables, which have lowered regional capacity prices, has compounded the challenge.

Cameroon’s participation in Medusa Africa is expected to redirect traffic flows and may require reconfiguration of commercial offers to fully leverage existing assets. With 24 fiber pairs per segment and a capacity of 10–18 Tbit/s per pair, Medusa is designed as an open, independent system capable of supporting Cameroon’s digital growth for at least 25 years. For the country, it also provides a critical replacement for the aging SAT-3 cable, whose capacity limitations and maintenance costs have become increasingly burdensome.

NuRAN has fully restored all seven sites, bringing them back on air. (Image credit: Nuran Wireless)

NuRAN Wireless Inc., a leading provider of mobile and broadband wireless infrastructure solutions, has shared an operational update on its network activities in Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

As highlighted in the Company’s September 2, 2025 press release, several key initiatives are progressing, including the Cameroon rollout, relocation of low-traffic sites in the DRC, the resumption of operations in Ghana following the MOU, deployments in new countries, and expansion of 3G network coverage.

In Ghana, NuRAN has fully restored all seven sites, bringing them back on air. “This milestone ensures the continuity of mobile services and reinforces network reliability for the communities served,” the Company noted.

In the DRC, site relocation activities have resumed, with one new site successfully relocated and integrated into the network. Additional relocations are underway and expected to be activated in the coming days as deployment accelerates. Meanwhile, site deployment in Cameroon continues as planned.

Alongside these initiatives, NuRAN is actively progressing toward the deployment of 50 additional sites. Combined with the Cameroon rollout and the DRC relocation program, these 50 sites are aimed at unlocking the final drawdown of USD 450,000.

Starlink’s satellite-powered broadband network will be made commercially available across CAR. (Image credit: U.S. MISSION CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC)

The United States Embassy has welcomed a landmark agreement between the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and US-based telecommunications company Starlink, marking a major step forward in the country’s digital transformation journey

The agreement was officially signed on December 18, 2025, paving the way for high-speed satellite internet services to be introduced in CAR for the first time.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Melanie Anne Zimmerman praised the development during a signing ceremony hosted by CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. The event brought together senior government officials, representatives from the Ministry of Post, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, and executives from SpaceX, Starlink’s U.S. parent company.

Addressing government and private sector leaders, Chargé d’Affaires Zimmerman reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing shared economic goals. She highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving digital inclusion, innovation and sustainable development. Speaking at the event, she committed to continue strengthening the relationship between the United States and CAR, especially by working together to expand opportunities for trade, investment, and commercial partnerships.

Chargé d’Affaires Zimmerman also underscored the U.S. Embassy’s role in facilitating dialogue and connecting key stakeholders throughout the negotiation process. She congratulated both the CAR government and Starlink on reaching what she described as a critical milestone for the country’s digital economy and future connectivity ambitions.

Under the agreement, Starlink’s satellite-powered broadband network will be made commercially available across CAR, delivering reliable, high-speed internet access in areas that have long struggled with limited connectivity. In a significant boost to social infrastructure, Starlink will also donate hundreds of satellite kits for distribution nationwide. These kits are expected to support rural schools, health centres and government institutions, helping to bridge the digital divide and improve access to essential services.

Enhanced connectivity is widely viewed as a catalyst for economic growth, opening doors to new digital infrastructure projects, foreign investment, tech entrepreneurship and cross-border business partnerships between American and Central African companies.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the U.S. Embassy and Starlink, as well as CAR’s Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Post, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy. The United States reiterated its support for initiatives that promote economic growth, technological innovation and deeper trade and commercial ties between the two countries.

Partner programme unlocks growth for niche ISPs. (Image source: Vox)

Andre Eksteen, senior product manager – FTTB at Vox, highlights how niche internet service providers (ISPs) in South Africa play a critical role in delivering connectivity to underserved areas

Yet, their growth is often constrained by the high capital investment required to build and maintain complex network infrastructure. To address this challenge, Vox, one of South Africa’s leading internet and communications companies, has launched the Vox Partner Programme, allowing ISPs to leverage Vox’s extensive network infrastructure, peering agreements, technical expertise, and operational support while they focus on delivering exceptional service to their customers.

Smaller ISPs provide reliable broadband and voice services in areas often overlooked by larger providers. However, they face multiple barriers, including limited economies of scale, infrastructure investment challenges, and the absence of long-standing vendor relationships. These hurdles make it difficult for new and mid-sized players to compete effectively.

ISPs must secure high-quality network equipment, implement Business Support Systems (BSS) and Operations Support Systems (OSS), and build skilled technical teams to manage complex networks. They also contend with high interconnect costs and the need to negotiate peering and caching agreements with major technology companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Netflix. Many of these agreements include minimum capacity thresholds, which can be cost-prohibitive for smaller providers.

Modern customers expect comprehensive solutions that combine multiple access technologies such as fibre, wireless, and satellite with voice and PBX functionality, delivered with reliability and speed. Meeting these demands is often impossible for niche ISPs, making it challenging to thrive in the market.

Expand without the heavy lifting: Vox partner programme

The Vox Partner Programme enables ISPs to overcome these challenges by leveraging Vox’s experience in building and managing network infrastructure, delivering broadband and voice services to hundreds of thousands of customers nationwide, and providing access to commercial partnerships with a wide range of access providers.

Key benefits for small and mid-sized ISPs include:

Seamless integration with flexible topologies: Vox adapts to each ISP’s setup, offering multiple connection options including point-to-point, ring, or mesh configurations to minimise disruption.

Premium infrastructure and expertise:

ISPs gain cost-effective access to carrier-grade routers, switches, and skilled technicians without overinvesting in scale. This allows them to focus on customer acquisition and service excellence.

Ecosystem partnerships:

ISPs can leverage Vox’s commercial agreements to access 10 FTTB networks, 18 FTTH networks, and 6 WTTB networks. They can also bypass minimum requirements and secure peering and caching with global platforms like Google and Netflix at manageable volumes.

Tailored services: Modular, scalable offerings from wholesale bandwidth to advanced voice solutions enable ISPs to grow at their own pace while delivering high uptime and low-latency performance to customers.

The Partner Programme is designed specifically for emerging and mid-sized ISPs ready to expand without the heavy lifting. Vox takes on the fixed costs, network management, upstream relationships, and operational complexities, freeing ISPs to focus on their unique value proposition. This approach enables smart, sustainable growth for providers of all sizes.

ISPs wishing to join the programme need an ECS Licence, billing and network management systems, Teraco presence, CPE installation capability, and first-line support. For national and international core network capacity, partners may use their own infrastructure or leverage Vox’s world-class backbone to deliver exceptional service.