Kenya and Tanzania launch cross-border fiber link

Kenya and Tanzania have marked a key milestone in East Africa's digital infrastructure with the launch of a cross-border terrestrial fiber link at the border post of Lunga Lunga and Horohoro.

The project officially inaugurated by Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, alongside Tanzania's ICT Minister, Jerry Silaa, is expected to lower costs and enhance high-capacity internet connection in the region.

The newly launched terrestrial link, which stretches about 130km and delivers up to 1.6 terabits per second, will provide Tanzania with a resilient alternative to direct undersea connectivity via Dar es Salaam, through Kenya's access to multiple submarine cables.

"Kenya reaffirms its commitment to building a connected and resilient digital Africa, driven by regional collaboration, innovation and inclusive infrastructure," Kabogo posted on his X, formerly known as Twitter, account.

The infrastructure establishes a high-capacity corridor connecting Kenya's National ICT Broadband Backbone, or NICTBB, to Tanzania's National Optical Fibre Backbone Infrastructure, or NOFBI.

The NICTBB and NOFBI projects, largely financed by concessional loans from Export Import Bank of China, were implemented by Huawei Technologies and China International Telecommunication Construction Corporation, or CITCC.

The Phase I and II of the NOFBI in Tanzania covering more than 7,500 km were completed using Chinese financing and technology.

Similarly in Kenya, Huawei has laid thousands of kilometers of fiber infrastructure covering all the 47 counties, with Chinese-backed financing underpinning the rollout.

Kabogo termed the initiative as a bold stride toward advancing East Africa's digital connectivity, a vision aligned with Africa Union's Agenda 2063.

Silaa also emphasized the role of the digital infrastructure in ensuring continuity of digital services even when marine cable paths face disruption.

The border post at Horohoro is poised for transformation into a "smart border" hub, enabling real-time data sharing between Kenyan and Tanzanian agencies to streamline trade and e-governance.

The integrated fiber network already spans Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, and Mozambique, with ambitions to extend it to the Democratic Republic of Congo.