Meta has officially taken a significant stake in Safaricom’s \$2.9 billion subsea fibre-optic cable project, known as the Daraja Fibre Optic Cable. This ambitious venture is set to link Oman and Mombasa, reinforcing digital connectivity between East Africa and the Middle East. Scheduled to go live in 2026, the project is designed to deliver faster, more reliable internet capacity to meet the surging demand across both regions.
The Daraja system will feature 24 fibre pairs, surpassing the typical 8 to 16 pairs found in existing cables, thereby offering unprecedented bandwidth. This higher capacity will support the rapid growth of 4G, 5G, and fixed broadband access, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of users benefit from faster and more reliable digital services. Safaricom’s proactive role as the project proponent underscores its growing influence in global connectivity initiatives.
Safaricom secured clearance from Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to land the cable at Nyali beach in Mombasa, with extensions into Tanzanian waters. This strategic location not only strengthens Kenya’s digital infrastructure but also positions Mombasa as a central hub for international connectivity. The project aligns with Kenya’s broader ambition to become a leading digital economy in Africa, supported by world-class infrastructure.
For Meta, this investment is part of a much larger strategy to create a 50,000-kilometre global subsea cable network. Alongside projects such as 2Africa and Pearls, the Daraja initiative expands Meta’s footprint in connecting Africa, Europe, and Asia. The move highlights how global technology companies are investing heavily in Africa’s digital future, ensuring robust and scalable networks for the next generation of users.
Kenya stands to benefit significantly from this investment, especially after recent costly internet disruptions caused by breaks in the Red Sea and East African cable systems. The Oman–Mombasa link will enhance redundancy, ensuring that businesses, governments, and individuals remain connected with minimal interruptions. By improving resilience and reliability, the project strengthens Kenya’s role as a digital leader in the region.
With projects such as Africa-1, PEACE, and the DARE1 extension already underway, the Daraja Fibre Optic Cable cements Mombasa’s position as a critical landing hub for subsea connectivity. This milestone underscores the importance of collaboration between global technology leaders and African enterprises in driving inclusive digital growth, bridging infrastructure gaps, and powering the continent’s future economy.
