Meta announces completion of 2Africa, the world’s longest open-access subsea cable system
Date: 2025-12-09
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Meta
has announced the completion of 2Africa, the world’s longest open-access subsea
cable system, marking a major milestone in global connectivity infrastructure.
The announcement was made in Cape Town by Kojo Boakye, Meta’s Vice President
for Public Policy in Africa, the Middle East, and Türkiye.
The
2Africa system is the first subsea cable to link East and West Africa in a
single continuous loop, connecting the continent to the Middle East, South
Asia, and Europe. Spanning 33 countries, it is expected to provide faster, more
reliable internet capacity for more than 3 billion people, accounting for 37
percent of the global population. According to Meta, the cable delivers more
capacity than all existing submarine cables serving Africa combined.
Mr.
Boakye described the project as the culmination of over seven years of
collaboration among Meta, its partners, and supporting governments. He noted
that its success demonstrates the impact of sustained investment, confidence in
Africa’s digital potential, and strong cooperation across the private sector,
public institutions, and civil society.
The
2Africa system introduces several technical and regional firsts, including
being the first cable to connect three continents—Africa, Asia, and
Europe—while also deploying a 16-fibre pair system on the continent. It is also
the first subsea cable to land at two locations in Nigeria, Lagos and Qua Iboe,
to enhance connectivity nationwide and across neighbouring landlocked regions.
Reflecting
on earlier work in the sector, Boakye pointed to regulatory foundations
established nearly two decades ago during World Bank and NEPAD-led
infrastructure initiatives. He acknowledged contributors from those early
efforts and thanked his team at Meta for their role in delivering the project.
With
construction now complete, Meta says the focus will shift to ensuring the
system delivers on its promise of improved, affordable, and accessible
connectivity across Africa and beyond.
