BCS Group, a leading Pan-African wholesale telecom infrastructure provider, has announced the completion of its Lake Tanganyika Submarine Cable Project.
This milestone marks the deployment of the deepest inland undersea fiber optic cable in the world. BCS Group CEO officially announced this achievement at MWC Barcelona.
Spanning 400 kilometers across Lake Tanganyika, the newly installed submarine fiber optic cable reaches depths between 800 and 1,300 meters. This project aims to transform connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring regions. Over 10 million people, including 7 million residents in South Kivu province and 3.7 million in the broader Lake Tanganyika region, will benefit from affordable, high-speed internet access.
Notably, this latest deployment follows BCS Group’s successful submarine installations in Lake Albert (2018-2019) and the Congo River (2022), reinforcing its expertise in challenging underwater fiber deployments. BCS Group currently is operating under licenses in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Angola.
The company also serves Burundi, South Sudan, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Ethiopia at their respective border points.
BCS Group’s Strategic Vision for Africa’s Digital Future
Yonas Maru, Founder and MD of BCS Group emphasized the significance of this project, stating “As the heart of Africa and custodian of a majority of natural resources required to drive modern life, the development and prosperity of Congo is central to the development of our continent,”
Moreover, highlighted the broader impact, explaining “The Lake Tanganyika submarine fiber cable combined with the 2,500 kms. of railroad and 2,000 kms. of Congo river cables being deployed enables us to overcome the lack of road infrastructure in Congo to light up the “dark” continent, provided East across to West Africa connectivity and take a step towards leapfrogging the development ladder.”
Lake Tanganyika, the longest lake in Africa at 660 kilometers and the second deepest in the world at 1,436 meters, serves as a critical conduit for digital expansion. BCS Group has been laying a 24-core single-armored submarine cable to connect Northern DRC with Southeastern DRC. Future expansion plans may extend connectivity to Tanzania and Burundi.
Developed in partnership with major telecom operators, including Airtel, the Lake Tanganyika Submarine Cable Project plays a crucial role in BCS Group’s mission. By providing resilient and redundant backhaul connectivity, the company strengthens mobile network operators and internet service providers across Africa.
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