Safaricom has reportedly sought permission from the Communications Authority of Kenya to build its own subsea cable, aiming to reduce reliance on third-party providers and enhance network resilience following last year’s major cable cuts.
If approved, Safaricom would become the first operator in Kenya to own and operate its own subsea cable.
According to Business Daily, Safaricom currently depends on subsea cable providers such as SEACOM, the East African Submarine System (EASSy), the East African Marine System (TEAMS), and Telkom Kenya for international bandwidth. Among these, rival operator Telkom Kenya holds landing rights for five providers, including SEACOM.
The subsea cable cuts in May last year disrupted EASSy and SEACOM, leading to widespread connectivity blackouts across Africa. To maintain service, Safaricom had to secure additional bandwidth from other operators.
This move appears to be part of Safaricom’s strategy to remain competitive, particularly in response to Elon Musk’s Starlink, which launched in Kenya in July last year. Starlink has provided connectivity to previously unconnected areas, unsettling traditional mobile network operators.
Sources speaking to Developing Telecoms described Starlink as a credible threat to MNOs, urging operators to invest in upgrades to remain competitive.
