Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has entered a deal with Kenya’s telecommunication giant Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) to bring its second submarine cable to Kenya.
Through its Irish subsidiary, Edge Network Services Limited, Meta has appointed Safaricom as the landing partner for a new high-capacity submarine cable connecting Oman and Kenya.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 28, the telco said the deal underscores Safaricom’s readiness to offer more than voice, data, and mobile money services.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa stated that the deal is a significant strategic milestone for Safaricom as it marks 25 years.
Meta Partners with Safaricom to Land Second Submarine Cable in Kenya
He added that it signals the telco’s readiness to transition into a fully-fledged technology company, in line with its Vision 2030 strategy.
“It positions us to meet the surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity, which is critical for powering economic growth, cloud adoption, and digital innovation,” said Peter Ndegwa.
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According to the company, the strategic partnership reinforces its commitment to deliver faster, more resilient, and future-proof connectivity in line with its vision to be Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030.
“It also positions the company at the forefront of digital transformation, empowering businesses, communities, and consumers with the bandwidth they need to thrive in a connected world,” Safaricom said.
The Under-Sea Cable System will be fully funded by Edge, with locally licensed operators in Kenya and Oman being contracted to operate the cable segment within territorial waters, as well as all associated in-country infrastructure.
$2.9 Billion Fiber Project
This comes a month after Meta partnered with Safaricom to support a new undersea fiber-optic project to strengthen East Africa’s internet backbone.
The $2.9 billion (Ksh379.9 billion) initiative, known as the Daraja Project, involves laying a 4,108-kilometer high-speed cable connecting Mombasa, Kenya, and Oman.
Once completed, the system is expected to begin operations in 2026, marking a significant milestone as Kenya’s first-ever internet cable. The project recently cleared a major hurdle after receiving approval from Kenya’s environmental regulator, NEMA.
It will underpin the further growth of 4G, 5G, and fixed broadband access for hundreds of thousands of people.
The Daraja system will deploy 24 fiber pairs, compared with the usual 8 to 16 on existing cables, giving it significantly higher capacity.
Also Read: Why 1 in 2 SIM Cards in Kenya Now Belong to Safaricom
Safaricom’s 50 Million Users Benefit from Expanded Internet and Digital Infrastructure
Safaricom serves over 50 million customers and supports more than 1.13 million jobs, both directly and indirectly.
Its total economic value was estimated at Ksh1.1 trillion ($8.5 billion) for the 12 months ending March 2025.
Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange with annual revenues of close to Ksh 388 billion as of March 2025, Safaricom provides connectivity through a range of technologies, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, covering over 99% of Kenya’s population.
The company also operates the world’s largest mobile payment system, M-PESA, Africa’s largest fintech platform, and the first mobile money transfer system globally.
M-Pesa empowers over 34 million customers to transact, save, or borrow via mobile phones, driving financial inclusion in Kenya from 26.7% in 2006 to 83.7% of the adult population in 2021. It generated over Ksh 161 billion in revenue in FY25.
Safaricom’s Ethiopian unit has also deployed world-class networks and services, contributing to Ethiopia’s digital transformation and regional connectivity.
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