Transforming Africa’s digital future with SEACOM 2.0

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.