Digital Sovereignty Under the Seas
The Undersea Cables Shaping Africa’s Digital Future: Morocco’s Role as a Regional Hub
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August 10, 2025 – As of today, over 95% of global data travels not through the air, but beneath the sea, carried by a vast network of submarine cables. This frequently enough-overlooked infrastructure is no longer simply a technical necessity; it’s a cornerstone of national sovereignty, economic growth, and digital independence. Increasingly,nations are recognizing this,and are actively investing in – and strategically positioning themselves around – these vital arteries of the internet. Nowhere is this more critical than in Africa, and Morocco is emerging as a key player in shaping the continent’s digital destiny.
The Strategic Importance of Submarine Cables
For decades, the internet’s physical infrastructure remained largely invisible to the average user. However, the geopolitical landscape is shifting. Control over submarine cables translates directly into control over data flow, impacting everything from financial transactions and cloud services to national security and access to facts. Reliance on cables owned and operated by international intermediaries creates vulnerabilities – potential chokepoints, inflated costs, and limited autonomy.The metric that encapsulates this need for control is international Bandwidth (IBP) – the capacity to transmit data between a country and the rest of the world. A high IBP isn’t just about speed; it’s a measure of a nation’s performance, reliability, and independence in the global digital economy. Countries with robust IBP are better positioned to attract investment, foster innovation, and participate fully in the digital age.
This realization is driving a global trend of nations seeking to own or co-finance their own submarine cable projects. The goal is simple: reduce dependence, increase capacity, and secure a stronger position in the digital world. Recent examples include investments by countries in the Mediterranean,the Baltic Sea,and across Southeast Asia,all aiming to bolster their digital infrastructure and reduce reliance on external providers.
morocco: A Natural Digital Gateway
Morocco stands out as a nation uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend. Its strategic geographic location, bridging Europe, africa, and the Americas, has fostered a diversified, dense, and resilient underwater cable infrastructure. The country isn’t just a point of passage; it possesses recognized expertise in maritime telecommunications, cultivated over years of investment and growth.
Currently, Morocco is connected by numerous cables, including:
2Africa: A massive project spearheaded by meta, connecting Europe, the Middle East, and 21 countries in Africa. Morocco is a key landing point for this cable, significantly boosting its capacity.
Atlas Infinitive: Connecting Morocco to Portugal and further to Europe, providing high-speed connectivity.
Numerous other regional cables: Linking Morocco to countries across the Mediterranean and West Africa.
This existing infrastructure, combined with its technical capabilities, positions Morocco as a potential digital hub for West Africa – a reliable and direct gateway for regional connectivity. However, this role shouldn’t be viewed as a final destination.
Beyond Gateway: Building African Digital Sovereignty
While serving as a gateway is valuable, Africa’s ambition must extend beyond simply being a transit point for global data. The continent needs to become an active participant in building its own digital infrastructure, fostering innovation, and controlling its digital destiny. This requires a two-pronged approach: increasing IBP and strengthening Internet Exchange Points (IXPs).
Understanding Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)
IXPs are physical infrastructures where Internet Service Providers (ISPs),operators,and content hosts can exchange internet traffic locally,without routing it through expensive international connections. Think of them as digital crossroads, allowing data to flow more efficiently and cost-effectively within a region.
A well-developed network of IXPs offers several key benefits:
Reduced Costs: localizing traffic reduces reliance on expensive international bandwidth.
Improved Performance: Shorter data paths translate to faster speeds and lower latency.
Local Content Development: IXPs encourage the growth of local content by making it easier and cheaper to access.
Increased Resilience: Localizing traffic reduces vulnerability to disruptions in international connections.
Currently, Africa lags behind other regions in IXP development. While progress is being made, notable investment and collaboration are needed to create a robust, interconnected network across the continent.
South-South Cooperation: The Path Forward
This is where South-South cooperation becomes crucial. Morocco, with its established infrastructure and expertise, is ideally positioned to initiate partnerships with its neighbors to build African digital sovereignty collectively. This coudl take the form of:
Joint Cable Projects: Collaboratively funding and deploying new submarine cables to connect underserved regions.
Regional Data Centers: Establishing data centers across the continent to host local content and reduce reliance on international providers.
Local Exchange and Accommodation Platforms: Developing platforms to facilitate the exchange of data and services within Africa.
* IXP Development: Supporting the establishment and expansion of IXPs