Safaricom is collaborating with Meta, through its infrastructure affiliate Edge Network Services, to construct Kenya’s first-ever subsea internet cable. The project, named Daraja (Swahili for “bridge”), aims to strengthen Kenya’s digital infrastructure and reduce its reliance on external providers, making the country more resilient to regional internet outages.
With an investment of $23 million, the Daraja project is designed to significantly improve Internet capacity, speed, and reliability in Kenya. The new subsea cable will stretch from Mombasa to the Middle East, offering a substantial upgrade with 24 fiber pairs. This is a considerable increase from the 8 to 16 fiber pairs typically found in many existing systems. The cable is scheduled to be completed by 2026.
This initiative comes at a critical time as Kenya seeks greater control over its digital future. The country has experienced several service disruptions in the past due to damage to older cables like SEACOM and EASSy, which have exposed the fragility of its current connectivity. For Safaricom, Daraja is a direct response to this vulnerability and a strategic step towards ensuring long-term digital independence.
Meta’s support for the project is part of a much larger vision. The tech giant is already a major investor in the 2Africa subsea cable, which is set to be one of the world’s largest. The 2Africa cable will span 45,000 km and connect Africa to Europe and the Middle East, with an expected capacity of up to 180 TBps. It is slated to be operational by late 2025 and will serve 33 countries. By also investing in Daraja, Meta is deepening its role in Africa’s connectivity ecosystem, reinforcing its belief that improved Internet access drives socio-economic growth. Meta’s research suggests that new cables could add up to $37 billion to the African GDP in the coming years.
The Daraja project also highlights a broader trend: East Africa’s coast is rapidly becoming a hotspot for subsea infrastructure. Other recent developments include the PEACE cable, which went live in 2022 and connects Kenya with Pakistan and Europe, and the Africa-1 system, which will link France to East Africa and the Middle East in 2025.
For Kenya, this improved infrastructure is expected to translate into more reliable Internet for startups, students, and underserved communities. As essential services, from e-commerce to healthcare and education, increasingly move online, reliable broadband is no longer a luxury but a fundamental necessity for development.
