In today’s hyperconnected world, where video calls, social media, cloud computing, and streaming services are part of everyday life, the invisible infrastructure that makes it all possible often goes unnoticed. At the heart of this global digital ecosystem lies an intricate and extensive web of undersea cables, quietly transmitting 99% of international data traffic. These submarine communication cables are the unsung heroes of the digital age, forming the backbone of global connectivity.
A Look at Our Lifeblood Below: How Subsea Cable Cables Empower Our World Today
A Brief Dive into Africa’s Subsea Cable History
Subsea cables not only encompass telegraphs or telephony; they now support the internet, enabling everything from international banking transactions to streaming a video from a server across the globe.
The first subsea cables connecting Africa included:
- SAT-1 (1969): This was Africa’s first undersea cable, linking South Africa to Portugal via Angola using analogue coaxial technology. It eventually failed due to its limited capacity and was rendered obsolete due to the rise of digital fiber-optic systems.
- SAT-2 (1993): SAT-2 connected South Africa to Europe via Portugal and Spain, offering digital transmission with improved capacity. Despite the advancement, the cable failed to keep pace with growing internet demands and was decommissioned as more advanced cables were introduced.
- SAT-3 (2001): This cable system linked South Africa to Europe and Asia via West Africa and the southern Indian Ocean, becoming a vital “internet artery” for Africa. Although, it suffered significant outages in 2020 and 2021 off the coast of the Congo.
- WACS (2012): The West Africa Cable System runs from South Africa to the UK along the west coast of Africa, offering high capacity and improved redundancy.
Analysis: Connecting the Globe: The Ever-Growing Industry of Submarine Cables
The Invisible Arteries of the Internet
While satellite technology often takes the spotlight in discussions regarding global communication, the reality is that fiber-optic subsea cables carry the overwhelming majority of international internet traffic. More than 500 active subsea cables stretch over 1.4 million kilometers, connecting continents and islands across the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, and beyond.
Each cable, often no thicker than a garden hose, contains optical fibers that transmit data using light signals. These signals can travel thousands of kilometers with minimal loss, thanks to repeaters positioned along the cables that boost the signal’s strength.
The importance of these networks cannot be overstated. From browsing websites to completing financial transactions and cloud-based services, subsea cables form the physical infrastructure supporting the digital economy.
Africa’s Subsea Renaissance
The strategic significance of subsea networks has grown in tandem with digital dependence. African countries and corporations are investing heavily in building, owning, and managing these cables to secure faster, more reliable data transmission routes. Technology giants such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft are directly investing in their own cables. For example, Google’s Equiano cable connects Europe to Africa, and Meta’s 2Africa cable is one of the largest subsea projects to date.
This shift reflects the growing geopolitical and economic relevance of digital infrastructure. Control over subsea networks fosters more than just improved connectivity; it translates into data sovereignty, economic competitiveness, and even national security.
Africa is experiencing a surge in subsea cable landings, driven by the rising demand for internet access and digital services. Historically underserved, the continent is now becoming a major node in global internet infrastructure. Projects like Equiano, 2Africa, and the PEACE Cable are reshaping Africa’s digital landscape by providing high-capacity, low-latency connections to global hubs.
In February 2024, Bayobab successfully landed the 2Africa subsea cable in both Ghana and Nigeria, marking a significant step in bridging the continent’s connectivity gap. Later in the year, in November 2024, Telecom Egypt announced the landing of the Africa-1 subsea cable, further reinforcing its role as a regional connectivity hub.
Beyond landings, new cable routes are forming. In January 2024, the launch of the Coral Bridge Subsea System, linking Egypt and Jordan, further cemented Egypt’s strategic position in global data flow. In February 2024, Telecom Egypt joined forces with Hungary’s 4iG Group to develop a new Albania-Egypt subsea link, creating a digital bridge between Africa and Europe.
These developments have profound implications. Improved connectivity boosts access to education, healthcare, and e-commerce, supports local innovation ecosystems, and reduces the cost of internet access. Subsea cables are, quite literally, laying the foundation for Africa’s digital transformation.
Vulnerabilities and Risks
Despite their importance, subsea cables are not invincible. They face numerous risks, from natural hazards like earthquakes and subsea landslides to human activities like fishing, anchoring, or even sabotage. Cable cuts can cause massive disruptions, especially for countries with limited redundancy in their infrastructure.
Geopolitical tensions have also spotlighted subsea cables as critical national infrastructure. Concerns over surveillance, espionage, and the monopolization of cable routes have prompted calls for greater regulation, transparency, and international cooperation.
Cybersecurity is another growing concern. While tapping a submarine cable requires specialized equipment and expertise, it is not impossible. Governments and private companies are increasingly focusing on securing not just the physical cable routes but also the data that flows through them.
In early 2024, internet outages swept across West and Central Africa, caused by simultaneous failures in multiple subsea cables. The disruptions underscored the continent’s overreliance on a limited number of routes, making countries particularly vulnerable to single points of failure. The incident echoed a 2021 event, when both the SAT-3 and West Africa Cable System (WACS) suffered major breaks following a submarine mudslide, highlighting the growing environmental risks posed to underwater infrastructure.
In response, global bodies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) have ramped up efforts to safeguard submarine cable systems, notably launching the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.
Related: Safeguarding Africa’s Digital Future through Submarine Cable Resilience
The Future of Subsea Connectivity
The demand for global data capacity is skyrocketing, driven by emerging technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). This demand necessitates continued investment in subsea infrastructure. Future cables are being designed to handle more capacity and become more resilient against faults.
Innovations in cable architecture, such as space-division multiplexing (SDM), are set to dramatically increase the volume of data a single cable can carry. Last year, Telecom Egypt and SubCom completed the landings of the 10,000 km IEX subsea cable system. SubCom was selected to engineer, manufacture, and deploy the system, which integrates SDM and wavelength selective switch (WSS), reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) technologies. These innovations enable greater bandwidth, enhanced efficiency, and more flexible traffic routing, making the infrastructure more adaptable to surging digital demand across Africa.
As our reliance on cloud services and digital communication grows, subsea networks will only become more critical. They may lie hidden beneath the ocean’s surface, but their impact is felt across every sector of society and every corner of the globe.
Subsea networks are far more than a technical marvel; they are the foundation of the modern digital world. They connect people, power economies, and enable the global flow of information that defines our era. As we move into an increasingly digital future, safeguarding and expanding this vital infrastructure will be key to ensuring that connectivity remains fast, secure, and universally accessible.
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