Global Telecom Giants Unveil Via Africa Subsea Cable: Boosting Europe-Africa Connectivity & Digital Resilience

A consortium of telecom operators and investors, including Orange Group, Sonatel, and Orange Côte d’Ivoire, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch Via Africa, a new submarine cable system designed to boost internet connectivity between Europe and Africa. The project aims to address growing data traffic demands while enhancing network resilience across the continent by providing an alternative route to existing infrastructure.

The Via Africa cable will connect Europe to South Africa, with landing points planned in the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, and multiple Atlantic coastal locations in Africa. Key African landing sites include Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, with potential extensions further south to improve regional connectivity.

According to the consortium, the initiative will operate under a collaborative model, allowing participating companies to co-invest and share governance responsibilities. This structure ensures alignment with regional connectivity needs, with Orange Group stating that partners will contribute to decisions on system design, deployment, and long-term operation.

The project is open to additional investors in future phases, with the next steps focusing on a joint-funded cable route study to determine the most efficient and resilient path. A procurement process will then follow to select a cable supplier.

Why does this matter?
The Via Africa project comes as global demand for digital infrastructure accelerates, particularly in Africa, where internet usage is growing rapidly. Existing submarine cables often face congestion, and the new system will provide redundancy, reducing the risk of service disruptions. Sonatel and other partners emphasized that the initiative supports long-term digital growth and improves connectivity diversity across the continent.

How will the project work?
The consortium will fund a technical study to assess the best route, balancing technical feasibility with economic considerations. Once the route is finalized, a supplier will be chosen to build and deploy the cable system. The project’s collaborative model ensures that all partners have a stake in its success, with governance shared among investors.

What happens next?
The initial phase involves the route study, expected to be completed before the procurement process begins. The consortium has not set a timeline for cable deployment, but industry experts suggest the project could take several years to fully implement.

The Via Africa initiative reflects broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s digital infrastructure, following similar projects like the 2Africa and ACE submarine cables. These systems have already expanded connectivity across the continent, and Via Africa aims to build on that progress by offering an additional, resilient alternative.

Key players in the consortium

• Orange Group: A global telecommunications operator with significant operations in Africa.
• Sonatel: Senegal’s state-owned telecom company, a major player in West African connectivity.
• Orange Côte d’Ivoire: The local subsidiary of Orange Group in Côte d’Ivoire.
• Canalink, GUILAB, International Mauritania Telecom, and Silverlinks: Regional telecom and digital infrastructure partners contributing to the project.

The Via Africa cable project underscores the growing importance of submarine infrastructure in supporting Africa’s digital economy. As data traffic continues to rise, initiatives like this are critical in ensuring reliable, high-speed internet access across the continent.