State-owned telecom operators from Djibouti, Ethiopia and Sudan have signed a tripartite agreement to build a new cross-border fibre-optic corridor, a project aimed at strengthening regional connectivity, expanding data capacity and reducing the risk of internet outages in the Horn of Africa.
Ethio Telecom, Djibouti Telecom and Sudatel Group signed the partnership agreement on Wednesday, February four, formalising a memorandum of understanding first concluded in December twenty twenty-four. The deal establishes a framework for the development of a resilient terrestrial fibre corridor linking the three countries.
Under the project, international submarine cable landing stations in Djibouti will be connected through Ethiopia and extended to landing points in Sudan, creating an alternative route for international traffic and reducing reliance on a single access corridor. The partners said the infrastructure would be designed to deliver multi-terabit capacity, capable of absorbing rapid growth in data traffic across the region.
The new corridor is expected to provide carrier-grade international connectivity with low latency, supporting cloud computing, hyperscale data infrastructure and digital platforms. It will also offer multiple secure cross-border routes, allowing traffic to be rerouted during disruptions and improving overall network resilience.
Ethio Telecom said the initiative, branded Horizon Fiber, aims to strengthen international bandwidth capacity, enhance redundancy and meet rising demand for data, cloud services, hyperscale connectivity and cross-border digital flows in East Africa.
The agreement comes as Africa’s digital economy expands rapidly, driven by increased adoption of cloud services, fintech, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, content distribution and corporate digitalisation. These trends are placing growing pressure on existing digital infrastructure, much of which was not designed to support current or future data volumes.
According to estimates by Swedish technology company Ericsson, total mobile data traffic across sub-Saharan Africa is expected to rise sharply by the end of the decade. Monthly traffic is projected to increase from about two point three exabytes in twenty twenty-four to eleven exabytes by twenty thirty, representing the fastest growth rate globally. Average monthly data usage per active smartphone is also expected to nearly triple over the same period.
At the same time, international submarine cable systems have become increasingly vulnerable to disruption. Outages caused by ship anchors, ageing infrastructure, natural disasters, conflict or suspected sabotage have become more frequent, resulting in service interruptions and costly repairs. Major cable failures in March and May twenty twenty-four disrupted connectivity across large parts of East Africa, highlighting the strategic importance of alternative terrestrial routes.
For Ethiopia, the project carries particular significance. As a landlocked country, it depends on neighbouring states for access to submarine cable systems and international internet traffic. Authorities have identified digital connectivity as a key constraint on economic growth and a priority area for reform.
A study published in October twenty twenty-five by digital infrastructure company Wingu estimated that Ethiopia had around twenty two thousand kilometres of fibre-optic networks nationwide. Most international connectivity currently routes through Djibouti, which hosts several major submarine cable landing stations on the Red Sea coast.
Despite progress in network rollout, Ethiopia continues to lag behind regional peers in terms of internet performance. Median fixed broadband speeds are estimated at around nine megabits per second, significantly lower than those recorded in countries such as Rwanda and South Africa, where average mobile speeds exceed forty megabits per second.
Wingu said the Horizon Fiber initiative represents more than a simple capacity expansion. By creating alternative pathways to submarine cables, it reshapes Ethiopia’s connectivity architecture and reduces dependence on any single international route.
The study also pointed to wider regional integration efforts. Ethiopia and Kenya agreed in June twenty twenty-five to finalise their fibre-optic interconnection. Kenya is currently linked to seven submarine cables, with two additional systems expected to enter service in twenty twenty-six. Djibouti hosts eight submarine cables, with four more planned, while Sudan is connected to five.
“For landlocked nations, true connectivity resilience depends not only on domestic investment but on strategic regional cooperation,” Wingu said. “Mesh networks with multiple routes allow traffic to be rerouted automatically during disruptions, ensuring continuity and reducing systemic risk.”
The telecom operators said the new corridor would support businesses, governments, content providers and hyperscale operators, positioning the region to better absorb future digital growth while strengthening economic integration across the Horn of Africa.
