2Africa International Submarine Cable Project: Building an Information Highway Around Africa, Embracing Africa’s Intelligent Digital Future

Applying institution

China Mobile International Limited

Other participating organizations

Meta, Vodafone, Orange, Center3, Bayobab, WIOCC, Telecom Egypt

Countries and Regions Covered or Involved in the implementation

33 countries and regions such as Angola, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (DRC), Côte d'lvoire, Djibouti, France, Egypt, Gabon

The 2Africa project was initiated in response to the rapid global digitalization trend. Its goal is to enhance Internet connectivity across the African continent and foster economic and social development through the deployment of submarine optical cable networks. This project is a major initiative of China Mobile in the field of international co-operation and technological innovation, aiming to tackle the challenges of low Internet penetration and underdeveloped network infrastructure in Africa.

Vigorously Advance the Development of Next-generation Information Infrastructure, Collaborate on Cross-border and Cross-regional Project Initiatives, and Enhance Spatial Information Systems

The 2Africa project is a collaboration between China Mobile and several international telecom operators, including Meta (formerly Facebook), Vodafone, Orange, Center3 (formerly STC), Bayobab (formerly MTN), WIOCC, and Telecom Egypt. This cross-continental submarine optical cable project covers Africa, Europe and Asia, with a total length of more than 45,000 kilometers and a total of 46 landing sites. The project aims to deliver high-speed and stable Internet connections to 33 countries by deploying advanced submarine optical cable technology. As a key partner, China Mobile has invested in one pair of optical fibres in the Ring African backbone, covering 28 landing sites across 23 countries. This project will strengthen network connectivity between Africa and countries in Europe and Asia, improve information transmission efficiency, and further promote global digitalization.

The 2Africa Project Significantly Enhances Internet Connectivity and Coverage Between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East-South Asia Regions by Deploying a Transcontinental Submarine Cable Network Using Advanced SDM Technology and an Open System Design

The 2Africa submarine cable system adopts an open system design and Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) technology, allowing each investor to independently determine the location of the SLTE and the cable landing connection scheme based on their specific needs. Some segments of the 2Africa system deploy up to 16 pairs of optical fibers, with a main trunk design capacity of up to 180Tbps.The 2Africa cable will provide ample space for future network demand growth in Africa, addressing the challenges posed by emerging new applications and services on network infrastructure transmission capacity. Additionally, the 2Africa cable system uses Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (WSS-ROADM) technology with wavelength-selective switching. With WSS-ROADM, the system will robustly support flexible management of cable capacity, precisely allocating wavelengths to different paths, thereby achieving flexible, scalable, and efficient network operations.

Advance the Development of Universal and Global Network Infrastructure to Deliver Improved Network Services to Impoverished or Underdeveloped Regions

The successful implementation of the 2Africa project will greatly enhance Internet access across the African continent, driving local economic growth and social progress. High-speed and stable Internet connections will lead to positive changes in sectors such as education, healthcare, and finance, helping to bridge the digital divide and improve the quality of life for residents. Moreover, the project will create numerous job opportunities and stimulate the growth of related industries. For China Mobile, the 2Africa project not only showcases its competitiveness and influence in the international market but also highlights its social responsibility as a leading global telecommunications operator. The project has injected new momentum into Africa's development and made a significant contribution to the global digitalization effort.