Tanzania and Kenya have officially inaugurated the redundancy route of the National Optic Fibre Cable network at the Horohoro border post, marking a significant advancement in enhancing digital connectivity and promoting regional integration in East Africa.
During the launch event, Tanzania’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, and Kenya’s Minister for Information, Communications and Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau, emphasised the necessity of expanding digital infrastructure throughout the African continent to foster digital transformation and spur economic growth.
The newly established redundancy route offers Tanzania a crucial alternative data path, connecting to eight undersea cables in Kenya. This addition safeguards against potential disruptions to the nation’s three marine cable connections based in Dar es Salaam. Minister Silaa noted, “This route guarantees that Tanzania remains digitally connected, even if there are issues with our marine landing stations in Dar es Salaam. It enhances regional data connectivity and enables faster, more reliable internet services across East and Central Africa.”
With this development, Tanzania is digitally intertwined with six neighbouring countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, and Mozambique. Silaa also mentioned plans to extend the fibre optic network to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), further solidifying Tanzania’s position as a crucial digital gateway for the region.
He appreciated President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership in promoting digital transformation. He highlighted that the National Optic Fibre Cable (NOFBI) network has grown to 13,820 kilometres, covering 109 districts. The government aims to expand this coverage to 30 districts within the current financial year.
Kenya’s Minister, William Kabogo Gitau, underlined the redundancy link’s strategic importance, viewing it not only as a technological triumph but also as a representation of East African cooperation. “This launch signifies a significant step toward establishing a united East African digital future. It lays the foundation for a robust continental digital network capable of competing globally,” Gitau stated.
He also suggested developing Horohoro into a smart border post, facilitating real-time data sharing between Tanzanian and Kenyan authorities and demonstrating the potential for regional digital collaboration.
Gitau articulated that the launch reflects a collective vision for creating a resilient and interconnected East African digital infrastructure that fosters economic growth, innovation, and regional integration.
Furthermore, the Director General of the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL), Mr. Moremi Marwa, highlighted that the redundancy route operates at an impressive speed of 1.6 terabits per second, establishing it as one of the fastest data links in the region. He traced the project back to a 2005 governmental vision aimed at positioning Tanzania as a regional ICT hub, with the rollout of the National Optical Fibre Cable network commencing in 2009.
Mr. Marwa noted that several Kenyan companies have already begun utilising the new link and encouraged Tanzanian telecom operators to seize this opportunity and leverage the services to enhance their delivery capabilities.
