Meta Announces Completion of 2Africa Subsea Cable to Connect 3 Billion People

Meta Announces Completion of 2Africa Subsea Cable to Connect 3 Billion People

Meta has announced the full completion and activation of the 2Africa subsea cable, the world’s longest open-access underwater cable system, designed to dramatically expand global connectivity and deliver faster, more affordable internet to more than 3 billion people—including Africa’s 1.4 billion population.

Built through a partnership with major global and regional telecom leaders such as Bayobab (MTN Group), Orange, center3, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC, the 2Africa subsea cable stretches across three continents and 33 countries. It is the first cable to seamlessly link East and West Africa in one continuous loop while extending connections to Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East.

A Major Boost to Africa’s Internet Capacity

Meta says the 2Africa system brings more subsea capacity than all existing African cables combined, marking a transformational leap forward for internet access on the continent.

This massive infrastructure upgrade will:

• Increase broadband speed
• Improve network reliability
• Reduce bandwidth costs
• Support next-gen cloud computing, digital services, and AI-powered applications

Kojo Boakye, Meta’s VP of Public Policy for Africa, the Middle East & Türkiye, described the project as a turning point:

“The completion of 2Africa is a monumental achievement—not just for Meta, but for the entire continent. It unlocks new opportunities for millions of Africans and accelerates economic growth.”

Meta emphasized that the project is part of its long-term commitment to driving digital transformation in Africa, especially as the region prepares for rapid AI-driven innovation and economic development.

A Model of Cross-Sector Collaboration

The 2Africa subsea cable is the result of extensive international collaboration, blending public and private sector expertise to deliver the largest subsea cable system ever deployed.

With the cable system now live:

• Millions of Africans will experience faster internet and stronger network performance
• Businesses will gain better digital infrastructure, improving competitiveness and market expansion
• Governments and institutions will be better equipped to deliver digital services and e-governance

The launch event included senior government officials from across Africa, including ministers and regulators from the DRC, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria.

Alex-Handrah Aime, Meta’s VP of Network Investments, added:

“We built 2Africa to be open by design so more providers can connect. It’s engineered for reliability, scale, and to power the next wave of cloud and AI technologies.”

Nigeria’s Connection to the 2Africa Subsea Cable

In February, MTN Group’s Bayobab confirmed the landing of the 2Africa subsea cable in Nigeria through MTN Nigeria, with a landing station at Mopo-Onibeju, Lekki, Lagos.

This addition strengthens Nigeria’s undersea cable ecosystem, joining existing systems like:

• MainOne
• SAT-3
• Glo-2
• ACE
• WACS
• Equiano
• Nigeria–Cameroon Submarine Cable System (NCSCS)

These cables connect Nigeria to the world’s internet backbone and continue to support the nation’s digital growth, tech innovation, and economic diversification.

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