The governments of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have engaged in discussions to extend Tanzania’s National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB), aiming to establish a high-capacity fibre optic link across Lake Tanganyika to the DRC’s Kalemie province by 2027.
This initiative seeks to enhance broadband access, promote cross-border cooperation, and drive economic growth through technological development. Tanzania stands to gain significantly from increased bandwidth leasing opportunities and could reinforce its position as East Africa’s digital gateway.
The proposed fibre deployment is expected to reduce bandwidth costs substantially, potentially halving current expenses that heavily depend on satellite communications. The project has the potential to benefit diverse sectors such as mining, digital finance, e-commerce, education, and healthcare, by providing more affordable and reliable connectivity.
Beyond regional digital transformation, the project aims to strengthen communication infrastructure within the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The existing backbone, which spans over 7,910km, already links Tanzania with six neighbouring countries — Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi — and now seeks to extend further into DRC.
Environmental and technical assessments are currently underway as part of the design phase for the extension. The recent review meeting held at Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) headquarters in Dar es Salaam was attended by TTCL’s Director General, a delegation from the DRC, and representatives from Tanzania’s Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology. While details remain limited, officials from both nations have committed to quarterly reviews to expedite progress and address funding risks.
The proposed cable, spanning approximately 160-186km across Lake Tanganyika, will utilize G.652D single-mode fibre optic technology, initially supporting capacities of 100 Gbps, with plans for future expansion to terabits. The project addresses the lake’s challenging depths of up to 1,470 metres and seismic risks along the East African Rift through specialized burial techniques and environmental safeguards. Compliance with the Ramsar Convention, which protects the lake’s biodiversity, is also a key aspect of the project.
Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2026, with full operations targeted for late 2027. The estimated cost ranges between US$15 million and US$20 million, involving public-private partnerships, including Mauritius-based Bandwidth and Cloud Services Group, which will provide technical expertise for fibre connectivity solutions.
This project follows recent developments in cross-border connectivity, notably the July launch of a terrestrial fibre link connecting Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Mombasa, Kenya, by TTCL and Kenya’s ICT Authority, further strengthening regional infrastructure.
