Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTLC), in partnership with Kenya’s ICT Authority (ICTA), has unveiled a new terrestrial fibre optic link connecting Dar-es-Salaam to Mombasa. The infrastructure development aims to enhance regional digital connectivity and increase network resilience across East Africa.
For Tanzania, which currently benefits from international connectivity via three subsea cables landing in Dar es Salaam, the new terrestrial route offers an additional layer of resilience by providing an alternative path to Kenya’s eight subsea cable links. Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Jerry William Silaa, highlighted during the launch ceremony on Friday at the Lunga Lunga/Horohoro border area that this new route ensures the country remains digitally connected even if there are disruptions at the marine landing stations in Dar es Salaam.
Silaa also noted that Tanzania is now interconnected with six neighbouring countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, and Mozambique. He further announced plans to expand the national fibre network to reach the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), underscoring ongoing efforts to broaden regional connectivity.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE) stated that the new fibre link will significantly enhance digital connectivity across the East African region. MICDE cabinet secretary William Kabogo Gitau emphasised that the project will facilitate increased cross-border trade, promote regional e-commerce, and help bridge the digital divide beyond national borders.
Kabogo also stressed the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks necessary for securing networks and fostering sustainable growth in the digital space. The fibre link marks a notable step towards deeper integration and enhanced digital infrastructure within East Africa.
