Meta, in partnership with leading global and regional telecommunications companies, has officially activated the core 2Africa subsea cable system, the world’s longest open-access subsea cable and the first to connect East and West Africa in one continuous loop.
Spanning three continents and 33 countries, the system links Africa with the Middle East, South Asia and Europe, ultimately connecting more than 3 billion people.
The activation marks a major breakthrough in global digital infrastructure and a turning point for the continent’s connectivity landscape. Designed, architected and led by Meta alongside partners including Bayobab (MTN Group), Orange, center3, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group and WIOCC, the 2Africa system delivers more capacity than all existing African subsea cables combined.
By dramatically expanding bandwidth and reducing the cost of international connectivity, 2Africa is expected to strengthen internet performance for Africa’s 1.4 billion people, powering faster speeds, greater reliability, and improved access to digital services for households, students, small businesses and enterprises.
Kojo Boakye, vice president, public policy, Africa, Middle East & Türkiye at Meta, said, “The completion of 2Africa is a monumental achievement, not just for Meta, but for the entire continent. This project demonstrates what’s possible when vision, investment and collaboration come together – unlocking new opportunities for millions of Africans, empowering businesses and helping to accelerate economic growth.
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“At Meta, we are proud to be the architects of this transformative infrastructure and remain deeply committed to investing in Africa’s digital future, in partnership with the ecosystem.”
The 2Africa consortium, composed of both private and public sector leaders, exemplifies the power of collaboration in building the longest subsea cable system in the world. With the completion of 2Africa, millions of Africans will experience improved internet speeds, greater reliability and expanded access to digital services. Enterprises will benefit from enhanced connectivity, driving innovation, economic growth and global competitiveness.
The event brought together multiple stakeholders from across the continent, including the Minister of Post, Telecoms and Digital Economy of the DRC, Hon. Jose Mpanda Kabangu; telecommunications regulators from Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Mozambique, and Angola; as well as other senior officials including from Kenya and Nigeria.
Alex-Handrah Aime, vice president, Network Investments at Meta, stated, “Completing the core 2Africa system is a milestone for open, reliable capacity spanning three continents. We built 2Africa to be open by design so more providers can connect and people and businesses can get faster, more dependable service. Under the surface, it’s engineered for scale, reliability and to power the next wave of cloud and AI experiences. Above the surface, it’s about everyday impact, from a student downloading a textbook in seconds to small businesses and entrepreneurs reaching new customers online. 2Africa lays the groundwork for inclusive growth today and the innovations we haven’t imagined yet.”
2Africa marks a defining moment for Africa’s digital future. By leading the design, funding and deployment of the world’s longest open‑access subsea cable to date, Meta and its partners are laying the foundation for faster, more reliable internet, new digital jobs and the next generation of online experiences.
