Meta has signed a deal with Safaricom to bring its second submarine cable to Kenya. The new undersea system will connect Oman and Kenya, increasing data capacity and reducing latency across the region.
The project is being developed through Edge Network Services Limited, a subsidiary of Meta responsible for its global network infrastructure.
Safaricom will serve as the landing partner in Kenya, overseeing local operations and managing the infrastructure within the country’s territorial waters.
Speaking about the agreement, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the move fits into the company’s long-term shift from a telecom operator to a technology company.
“This deal is a significant milestone for us as we mark 25 years and signals our readiness to transition into a fully-fledged tech company in line with our Vision 2030 strategy. It positions us to meet the surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity that’s critical for powering economic growth, cloud adoption, and digital innovation.”
While Safaricom is best known for services like M-PESA and mobile data, this deal shifts the focus to the backbone of connectivity, the infrastructure that keeps everything running.
With rising demand for streaming, AI tools, cloud platforms, and remote work, robust connectivity has become central to digital growth in Africa.
The undersea cable will be fully funded by Meta’s Edge unit, with licensed operators in both Kenya and Oman handling their respective cable segments.
Once operational, the system is expected to improve internet speeds, lower costs, and strengthen the reliability of international data connections.
Meta is also involved in 2Africa, one of the world’s largest submarine cable projects that also lands in Kenya.
