SEACOM launches 2.0 subsea system to boost Africa’s digital sovereignty. (Image source: SEACOM)

SEACOM, Africa’s pioneer in digital infrastructure, has unveiled SEACOM 2.0, a next-generation subsea cable system set to transform connectivity across the Indian Ocean Basin, Middle East, Mediterranean, and Southern Europe

Announced at Submarine Networks World 2025 in Singapore, the project represents a major step toward strengthening Africa’s position in the global digital economy while meeting rising demand for AI, cloud, and real-time data services.

Building on its legacy, SEACOM first made history in 2009 with the launch of the region’s first privately owned subsea cable, which reduced connectivity costs by 300% and accelerated growth in cloud services, fintech, and technology ecosystems. Now, as the Indian Ocean Basin—home to 2.9 billion people in 33 nations with a growing middle class and youthful demographics—faces rapid expansion, SEACOM 2.0 is designed to secure long-term infrastructure for the decades ahead.

By 2030, global networks are expected to support over 10 billion AI agents, with SEACOM 2.0 positioned as the backbone of this AI-powered transformation. Looking further ahead to 2050, when the world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion, the system is engineered to meet the demands of a region that will host half of humanity.

Unlike conventional systems, SEACOM 2.0 features a 48-fibre-pair design, optimised for high-capacity, low-latency AI workloads. Its cable landing stations will evolve into AI communication nodes, linking sovereign African AI infrastructure with global data hubs.

Beyond capacity, resilience is central to the project. Following recent subsea cable outages that highlighted vulnerabilities, SEACOM 2.0 introduces diversified routes closer to African shores and open, carrier-neutral landing points. This reduces risks, strengthens security, and ensures continuity of service—while positioning coastal nations as active custodians of global digital connectivity rather than passive endpoints.

For countries along its path, SEACOM 2.0 represents a growth catalyst:

• Boosting GDP: Subsea infrastructure has already raised African nations’ GDP per capita by more than 6%, with SEACOM 2.0 expected to multiply this impact.

• Enabling Smart Infrastructure: From AI-driven city planning to IoT-enabled ports, the network will power real-time analytics and edge computing.

• Supporting SMEs: By lowering the cost of enterprise-grade connectivity, it opens access for small businesses to cloud tools, digital marketplaces, and international customers.

The cable will also extend critical access to landlocked regions, including SADC and East African markets, reducing reliance on single routes and enabling countries to emerge as hubs for content and application providers. In today’s digital era, connectivity is no longer optional—it is the oxygen driving the AI age.

The expansion is expected to improve digital access for hundreds of millions of people across up to 22 African nations

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has taken a step to strengthen the security of international data communications by funding a feasibility study to extend the Medusa Submarine Cable System to Africa’s Atlantic coastline

The expansion is expected to improve digital access for hundreds of millions of people across up to 22 African nations.

USTDA and AFR-IX Telecom (AFR-IX), an infrastructure and telecommunications company specialising in Africa’s digital infrastructure, formalised their collaboration on the project. The initiative aims to boost data security and privacy, counter threats posed by malign global actors seeking to compromise critical infrastructure, and deepen long-term digital partnerships between Africa and the United States.

Why Medusa matters?

“Subsea cables are the foundation for Africa’s digital future. Secure, reliable digital infrastructure provides the essential bandwidth and foundation to enable widespread use of a new generation of technologies like AI, quantum computing, and 6G solutions. These are all areas where U.S. companies provide trusted solutions and where USTDA is focusing its attention,” said Thomas Hardy, USTDA’s acting director. “USTDA’s involvement in this project will help secure it against untrusted infrastructure providers that could manipulate markets, intercept data, and conduct surveillance to the detriment of the United States and our African partners.”

The feasibility study funded by USTDA will evaluate both the technical and commercial potential of extending the Medusa subsea fiberoptic cable from the Mediterranean Sea to Africa’s Atlantic coast. It will incorporate U.S. expertise to recommend American standards and alternatives to untrusted suppliers, advancing shared goals for secure, standards-based connectivity while opening the door for U.S. technology solutions to be deployed.

The project also promises to expand high-speed access across the region, enabling key services such as cloud computing, secure government communications, and digital financial transactions.

Norman Albi, CEO of AFR-IX Telecom and the Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System, highlighted the project’s importance: “The Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System will be transformational for digital connectivity along Africa’s Atlantic coast, creating new opportunities for innovation, commerce, and social inclusion in the region. USTDA’s support is truly catalytic — turning an ambitious vision into a bankable project and accelerating the partnerships needed to bring it to life. At Medusa, we are proud to receive USTDA’s support, which underscores the importance of adding the United States as a partner to Medusa Africa."

Accenture will deploy its AI Refinery platform and related technologies to design and deliver sovereign AI solutions powered by Cassava’s GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS)

Cassava Technologies (Cassava), a global technology leader of African heritage, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Accenture to scale its sovereign AI capabilities across Africa

Accenture will deploy its AI Refinery platform and related technologies to design and deliver sovereign AI solutions powered by Cassava’s GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS). These are hosted within Cassava’s secure data centres and enhanced with NVIDIA AI infrastructure. The solutions will enable existing and future Cassava customers to run AI workloads and manage data within their national borders, meeting local requirements and regulations.

The initiative will start in South Africa, with expansion planned in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. This phased rollout aligns with Cassava’s ongoing expansion of its data centre facilities across Africa. Cassava will also utilise its continent-wide high-speed, ultra-low-latency fibre broadband network, interlinking its energy-efficient data centres to support AI computing demands.

“AI is opening up exciting new opportunities for sparking innovation, advancing competitiveness and driving growth across Africa,” said Mauro Macchi, CEO of Accenture for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With our deep, global experience in sovereign cloud and AI, Accenture will help Cassava deliver secure, scalable sovereign AI solutions and reimagine its operations. Together, we will enable organizations across the African continent to adopt AI with confidence and unlock new ways to create value.”

“With our GPUaaS, Cassava will drive the continent’s AI revolution by allowing businesses to access compute power based on their individual needs. This is our commitment to ensuring Africa has the infrastructure and access it needs to compete in the AI era – AI isn’t just a technology story; it’s a nation-building story with inclusion at its centre,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Cassava AI. “Collaborating with Accenture allows us to leverage their global expertise in building a sovereign AI cloud capability designed for the African market. This partnership will strengthen data governance, drive practical AI adoption across key industries, and ensure that we provide African solutions for African challenges.”

As part of this collaboration, both companies will integrate regional context, languages, and cultural nuances into the AI solutions, ensuring they are locally relevant and impactful. Target sectors include financial services, mining, telecommunications, agriculture, and healthcare. This localised strategy will reinforce compliance and trust while ensuring that technology reflects market realities, enabling businesses to innovate sustainably.

Cassava will invest in infrastructure and platform development to prepare for commercialisation, focusing on scalability, security, and compliance. This reinforces the company’s wider commitment to responsible AI adoption, innovation, and productivity growth in Africa.

Google drives AI adoption, digital skills, and connectivity to empower young Africans and reshape innovation landscapes

Africa, home to the world’s largest youth population expected to surpass 830 million by 2050, is at a pivotal moment for technological advancement. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a transformative opportunity to empower young Africans, enhance innovation, and bridge the digital divide

Google has long recognised that access to AI requires more than just technology. It also demands connectivity, products, and training. By making AI accessible, Google aims to expand opportunities for young people across the continent, ensuring the digital revolution benefits everyone and that AI does not widen existing inequalities.

Connectivity as the foundation for AI

Google’s commitment to African connectivity began in 2006 with the Seacom cable. In 2021, the company pledged US$1bn over five years to strengthen digital infrastructure, an investment it has already exceeded. This funding has supported the development of resilient and secure networks essential for Africans to harness AI.

Recently, Google announced four strategic subsea cable hubs spanning North, South, East, and West Africa. These hubs will create digital corridors across the continent and beyond, enhancing international connectivity, boosting resilience, and driving economic growth. This initiative builds on existing projects such as the Google Cloud region in Johannesburg, the Equiano cable along Africa’s western coast, and Umoja, the first fiber optic route linking Africa directly to Australia. Collectively, these efforts have enabled over 100 million Africans to access the internet for the first time.

AI empowering youth and innovation

To accelerate learning and innovation, Google is providing college students aged 18 and above in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe with a free one-year subscription to Google Gemini AI Pro. The suite includes tools like Deep Research for in-depth reports, Guided Learning as an AI companion, and coding and content creation resources, equipping students to tackle local challenges and seize new opportunities.

Google has trained 7 million Africans in AI skills and aims to reach an additional 3 million students, teachers, and young people by 2030. Over the past four years, the company has invested more than US$17 million in African universities and research institutions, with another US$9mn planned. Support for local languages has grown as well, with over 30 African languages added to Google Translate and more than 40 African voice datasets under development.

Driving African-led solutions

Google’s AI research teams in Kenya and Ghana are addressing real-world challenges such as flood forecasting, agricultural resilience, and infrastructure mapping. By 2030, Google aims to reach 500 million Africans with AI-powered solutions that empower communities, businesses, and governments.