Leading telecom and infrastructure companies have launched the Via Africa submarine cable project to strengthen connectivity between Europe and South Africa. Key partners include Orange Group, Canalink, GUILAB, International Mauritania Telecom, Orange Côte d’Ivoire, Sonatel, and Silverlinks.
These organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve data capacity, support growing digital demand, and enhance network resilience across Africa.
Route and Coverage
The Via Africa subsea cable system will connect major European hubs to Africa. Planned landing points include:
- The United Kingdom, France, and Portugal
- Atlantic regions such as the Canary Islands, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria
The project will also extend further south to improve network diversity and reliability across additional regions.
Consortium Model and Investment Strategy
The Orange Group structured the project as a consortium model, allowing partners to co-invest and actively participate in governance. This approach gives stakeholders greater control over infrastructure decisions, including system design, deployment, and long-term operations.
Partners will jointly fund an initial route study to determine the most efficient path based on technical feasibility, resilience, and cost-effectiveness. The consortium remains open to additional investors as the project progresses.
Growing Subsea Cable Expansion in Africa
The Via Africa project reflects a broader trend of subsea cable expansion across Africa. Companies continue to invest in infrastructure that improves global connectivity and digital access.
Recent developments include:
- The Medusa Africa cable project, which added Guinea as a participant
- The EllaLink cable, now providing Mauritania with a direct connection to Europe
- A subsea fiber-optic agreement between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria to strengthen regional connectivity and cybersecurity
These initiatives highlight the increasing demand for high-speed, reliable internet infrastructure across the continent.
