(DJIBOUTI TELECOM) - Installation of trunk and branch units has commenced; marine operations are scheduled for completion in March 2020

Djibouti Telecom, Somtel, Telkom Kenya and SubCom today announced that Djibouti Africa Regional Express 1 (DARE1) submarine cable system has landed in La Siesta Beach (Djibouti) and the marine installation is underway.

In addition to the installation of the trunk, the installation of the two branch legs to the system’s four landing stations has also commenced. The landing stations, located in Djibouti (Djibouti), Bosaso (Puntland), Mogadishu (Somalia) and Mombasa (Kenya), will help enhance connectivity in the east African region and will enable more efficient communications. The two installation vessels are progressing on schedule and marine operations are scheduled to be complete in March 2020.

While the marine vessels and crews work to install the trunk and branches, installation is also underway on the land cable and terminal equipment that will be used for the DARE1 system. The entire system is on track to be ready for provisional acceptance in June 2020.

About Djibouti Telecom

Djibouti Telecom SA is the primary telecommunications company of Djibouti, providing landline, mobile and Internet services. The company is headquartered in Djibouti City, Djibouti. Djibouti Telecom was founded in 1999 and has ever since established itself as a regional hub responsible for delivering a complete portfolio of voice, data/IP and capacity services over state-of-the-art network infrastructure that reaches out to eastern and southern Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Djibouti Telecom is now the leading strategic hub for international telecommunications services in East Africa and Host seven International Cables. Visit: https://international.djiboutitelecom.dj

About Somtel Somalia LTD

Somtel is one of the leading telecommunications companies in Somalia, providing landline, mobile and internet services. Somtel was founded in 1997 and was the first operator to launch a 3G and LTE network in Somalia. Somtel has also transformed the financial system in Somalia through its Edahab system. Visit: www.somtelnetwork.net

About Telkom Kenya

Telkom connects the people that keep Kenya on the move. It does this by providing integrated telecommunications solutions to individuals, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Government and large corporates in Kenya, drawing from a diverse solutions suite that includes voice, data, mobile money as well as network services. Powered by its vast fibre optic infrastructure, it is also a major provider of wholesale carrier-to-carrier traffic, within the country and the region. Telkom is building on strong, consumer-centric ethos that is committed to providing innovative, accessible and refreshingly simple communications solutions that suit customers’ everyday communication needs. Established as a telecommunications operator in April 1999, Telkom is 60 per cent owned by Helios Investment Partners, with the remaining stake held by Kenyans through the Government of Kenya. Please visit www.telkom.co.ke to get to know more about Telkom.

Telkom Kenya owns a 23% stake in TEAMS, a 5,000km undersea fibre optic cable through Fujairah, UAE; a 10% stake in LION2 another 2,700km undersea fibre optic cable through Mauritius. It also owns a 2.6% stake in the East African Submarine System Cable and manages the National Optic Fibre Backbone, an inland fibre optic cable network running through Kenyan counties. Visit telkom.co.ke