Highlights

• Cross-border fiber optic interconnection inaugurated on July 18, linking Dar es Salaam to Mombasa
• Project connects Tanzania’s national backbone (NICTBB) to Kenya’s submarine cables
• Aims to improve affordability, resilience, and digital inclusion across East Africa

Tanzania and Kenya have launched a terrestrial fiber optic interconnection linking Dar es Salaam to Mombasa through the Lunga Lunga/Horohoro border, in a strategic move to improve regional Internet access and digital resilience.

The initiative, jointly managed by Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation and Kenya’s ICT Authority, was inaugurated on Thursday, July 18, and is designed to enhance connectivity between the two countries by integrating Tanzania’s National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) with Kenya’s submarine cable infrastructure.

Today, alongside my Tanzanian counterpart Hon. Jerry William Silaa, we launched the Dar-es-Salaam to Mombasa Terrestrial Fibre Link at the Lunga Lunga/Horohoro border.
A key milestone in advancing East Africa’s digital connectivity. pic.twitter.com/fniJKWrz3x

— Hon. William Kabogo (@honkabogo) July 18, 2025

“We are in the process of reviewing our service delivery policies between the two countries to ensure that citizens benefit from high-quality and affordable communication services,” said Jerry Silaa, Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology, during the launch.

Kenya, with 48% of its population connected to the Internet—around 27.4 million users—boasts a robust infrastructure centered around Mombasa’s undersea cable landings. Tanzania, meanwhile, has extended its national broadband network to 109 of 139 districts and is leveraging this interconnection to reduce its dependency on third-party submarine connections.

The fiber link aims to reduce costs, strengthen digital services, and secure data flows, while supporting cross-border e-commerce, digital inclusion, and regional economic integration. It is part of a broader push by East African nations to harmonize infrastructure and create a unified digital ecosystem.

The project underscores the growing role of state-to-state partnerships in accelerating Africa’s digital transformation by pooling infrastructure and aligning national strategies.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho