Djibouti Telecom has announced a daring extension of its Africa Regional Express 1 (DARE1) undersea cable, which will create a new 3,200–3,500 km link from Mombasa, Kenya, to Durban, South Africa.
This initiative will provide new communication pathways along Africa’s east coast and increase internet capacity between South Africa and Kenya.
The project promises faster and more dependable internet access by utilising the Mombasa trunk station to connect other nations like Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
Enhancing internet routes from Kenya to South Africa
Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya are connected by the DARE1 cable, which has a significant 36 Tbps bandwidth. The planned extension will expand the network southward, adding new landing sites in the cities of Dar es Salaam and Mtwara in Tanzania, Nakala, Beira, and Maputo in Mozambique, Mahajanga and Toliary in Madagascar, and Mtunzini in South Africa.
In addition to diversifying internet traffic pathways, this will lower latency and increase network resilience for cloud service providers and carriers throughout the region.
Boosting digital infrastructure and regional connectivity
The expansion, which is expected to start construction in 2026 and be operational by 2028, will meet East and Southern Africa’s increasing digital needs.
The updated subsea cable will benefit cloud platforms, businesses, and telecom operators with increased bandwidth and improved dependability.
This strategic initiative represents a significant step towards a more resilient and integrated African digital economy by lowering reliance on constrained routes and enabling faster internet speeds for both communities and enterprises.
This project is more than mere fiber optic growth; it signals a critical leap in the continent’s digital infrastructure, vital for supporting economic growth, innovation, and access to digital services across Africa from Kenya to South Africa.