By Winnie Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya: Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, has submitted an application to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) for permission to land its own undersea Internet cable.
As per Techpoint, if the CA approves the application, Safaricom will be able to construct and operate its own submarine cable, eliminating its reliance on third-party providers. This would be a historic first for a Kenyan telecommunications company.
Safaricom’s goal is to enhance high-speed internet delivery, connectivity, and maintain its leadership position in Kenya’s digital landscape by having more control. Currently, Safaricom relies on international bandwidth providers such as SEACOM, TEAMS, EASSy, and Telkom Kenya. Notably, Telkom Kenya possesses landing rights for five cables connected to Kenya.
Many parts of East Africa experienced poor internet connectivity due to recent outages, such as the May 2024 disruptions on SEACOM and EASSy. These disruptions forced Safaricom to seek additional bandwidth and likely prompted them to invest in their own infrastructure.
Safaricom’s move to secure more independence over its Internet supply is evident in its ambition to acquire submarine cable rights, currently regulated by the Communications Authority.
Kenyan internet providers will need to step up their game, especially with the entrance of Starlink in mid-2023. Elon Musk’s satellite internet service has gained significant popularity in the country, offering dependable high-speed internet, particularly in remote areas. This poses a challenge to established providers like Safaricom, which currently holds around 37% of the fixed internet market.
Safaricom is taking the competition seriously and has requested regulatory measures to ensure that companies like Starlink collaborate with local network operators. Safaricom is clearly preparing for a significant internet battle.
