This month, the Africa-1 consortium—currently composed of Etisalat, G42, Mobily, Pakistan Telecommunication Company, and Telecom Egypt—partnered with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) to commence the construction of a state-of-the-art telecommunications optical submarine cable network. This 10,000 km cable system, Africa-1, will feature 8 fiber pairs and aims to enhance connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, and Europe, significantly boosting transmission capacity between Asia and Europe.
The Africa-1 system will initially have landings in key locations such as Kenya, Djibouti, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and France. It will also connect additional countries across the Mediterranean, including Algeria and Italy, with future expansions planned for Somalia, Yemen, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa.
Equipped with advanced ASN 1620 Softnode transmission technology, the Africa-1 cable will support speeds of 200/300/400 Gbps, facilitating the transportation of increasing data volumes across continents. The system will play a pivotal role in supporting digital transformation efforts across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, providing a vital infrastructure link for the region’s growing digital economies.
Alain Biston, President and CEO of Alcatel Submarine Networks, expressed pride in ASN’s role in building Africa-1, emphasizing the system’s importance in interconnecting millions of people and supporting the region’s digital development journey.