Meta Chooses Safaricom as Landing Partner for New Oman, Kenya Submarine Cable

Meta has appointed Safaricom as its official landing partner in Kenya for the new “Daraja” submarine cable system — a 4,108-kilometre high-capacity network linking Salalah, Oman, with Mombasa, Kenya.

The project, fully funded and owned by Meta through its subsidiary Edge Network Services Limited, is designed to expand internet connectivity across East Africa and strengthen global network resilience. Safaricom will operate the Kenyan landing station and manage in-country infrastructure under the agreement.

According to technical details released by Meta, the Daraja cable will include 24 fibre pairs and an estimated total cost of US$23 million. It is expected to be completed and operational by 2026, complementing Meta’s existing 2Africa network and providing an alternative route that bypasses congested maritime corridors.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa described the partnership as a “major strategic milestone” for the company:

“This collaboration marks a significant step in Safaricom’s evolution from a telecom provider to a technology powerhouse, aligned with our Vision 2030 strategy.”

For Meta, the Oman–Kenya link reinforces its ongoing investment in digital infrastructure across Africa, where the company continues to build data routes, cables, and edge networks to support its platforms and cloud services.

Industry analysts say the project will improve internet speeds, reduce latency, and expand bandwidth availability across East Africa — particularly benefiting businesses, data centres, and cloud service providers.

The partnership also illustrates a growing global trend: major technology companies directly investing in undersea cable systems to secure connectivity, reduce dependence on third-party carriers, and improve control over network performance.