Meta, in collaboration with a consortium of leading global and regional telecommunications partners, have announced the successful completion and activation of the core 2Africa Subsea Cable system.
This monumental piece of digital infrastructure now stands as the world’s longest open-access subsea cable system, spanning 45,000 kilometers and connecting 33 countries across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. Notably, 2Africa is the first cable ever to link East and West Africa in a single, continuous system, marking a pivotal milestone for continental connectivity.
The 2Africa system, architected and led by Meta, involved robust collaboration with partners including Bayobab (MTN Group), Orange, center3, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC. Its activation is forecast to transform connectivity for Africa’s 1.4 billion people over the next decade.
Utilizing cutting-edge technology, 2Africa delivers more subsea capacity than all of Africa’s existing subsea cables combined. This massive injection of bandwidth will result in faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective internet access for both consumers and enterprises across three continents.
Speaking at the launch event, Kojo Boakye, Vice President, Public Policy, Africa, Middle East & Türkiye at Meta, emphasized the project’s transformative potential. “The completion of 2Africa is a monumental achievement—not just for Meta, but for the entire continent. This project demonstrates what’s possible when vision, investment, and collaboration come together – unlocking new opportunities for millions of Africans, empowering businesses, and helping to accelerate economic growth.”
The enhanced connectivity delivered by the 2Africa system is expected to lay the vital foundation for the next wave of digital transformation in Africa. This includes enabling transformative new AI experiences, fostering significant economic growth, and accelerating digital inclusion across the continent.
Alex Handrah Aime, Vice President of Network Investments at Meta, highlighted the long-term vision behind the cable’s engineering. “We built 2Africa to be open by design so more providers can connect, and people and businesses can get faster, more dependable service… Under the surface, it’s engineered for scale, reliability and to power the next wave of cloud and AI experiences.”
The open-access model is crucial, as it ensures that various service providers can utilise the infrastructure, thereby driving competition and lower prices for end-users. Businesses stand to benefit from enhanced global competitiveness, while millions of Africans will experience dramatically improved speeds and reliability for accessing online services.
The launch event underscored the breadth of the partnership, bringing together key stakeholders, including the Minister of Post, Telecoms and Digital Economy of the DRC, Hon. Jose Mpanda Kabangu, and telecommunications regulators from seven African nations. The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing consortium members for their outstanding collaboration in delivering the system, culminating in a symbolic 2Africa cable light-up ceremony.
Meta reaffirmed its deep commitment to investing in Africa’s digital future, positioning 2Africa as a defining moment that will spark the next generation of online experiences and digital jobs across the region.
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