{"id":224419,"date":"2026-05-16T14:56:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T14:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/a-gigantic-submarine-cable-between-europe-and-africa-oranges-life-insurance-to-protect-the-internet\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T14:56:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T14:56:54","slug":"a-gigantic-submarine-cable-between-europe-and-africa-oranges-life-insurance-to-protect-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/a-gigantic-submarine-cable-between-europe-and-africa-oranges-life-insurance-to-protect-the-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"A Gigantic Submarine Cable Between Europe and Africa: Orange’s “Life Insurance” to Protect the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Importance of Undersea Cables in Global Connectivity<\/h2>\n

Over 95% of international internet traffic transfers through submarine cables located at the ocean’s floor. This infrastructure is crucial for sustaining essential services, including cloud computing and financial systems, across continents. Africa, despite its burgeoning demand for bandwidth, suffers from older cables that cannot handle current traffic loads. In contrast, Europe enjoys established connectivity hubs in cities like Marseille, Lisbon, and southern England but still faces aging infrastructure and associated risks. Addressing these challenges is the impetus behind the newly announced Via Africa submarine cable, a collaborative project led by Orange and a consortium of seven operators here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Via Africa Cable<\/h2>\n

Designed to enhance connectivity between Europe and Africa, the Via Africa cable will stretch from southern Europe to South Africa along the Atlantic coast. Key connection points in Europe will include the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. In Africa, the cable will touch down in countries like Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria, with the complete route still under study. This project aims to improve the resilience and diversity of international communications, addressing the pressing need for better infrastructure on both continents.<\/p>\n

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\n Sketch of the layout. Orange<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Why Is This Project Crucial?<\/h2>\n

The Via Africa cable addresses a significant connectivity gap on the African continent, characterized by aging, insufficient infrastructure at a time when demand is soaring due to advancements in cloud services, artificial intelligence, and remote work. Notably, coastal regions like Ivory Coast face risks from cable congestion, as multiple cables converge in limited areas, making them susceptible to disruptions.<\/p>\n

For example, in March 2024, four cables failed simultaneously due to a rockslide, leaving 13 West African countries with severely diminished internet connectivity for weeks. Such failures also impact Europe’s ability to maintain traffic flow, hindering operators and businesses dependent on these routes. Via Africa aims to provide an alternative path, reducing reliance on existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Screenshot<\/a>
\n Six cables, same physical point in Ivory Coast. Submarine Cable Map<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Investment Context and Future Prospects<\/h2>\n

The need for this submarine cable comes at a critical time. The existing cables along the African Atlantic coast, such as SAT-3\/WASC (2002), WACS (2012), and ACE (2012), are aging and have proven vulnerabilities. The Via Africa initiative is part of a broader wave of investment in African submarine infrastructure, including the 2Africa project by Meta (2025) and Medusa in the Mediterranean (2026).<\/p>\n

Orange is no stranger to this endeavor; the company manages over 450,000 kilometers of submarine cables globally through its subsidiary, Orange Marine. The company plans to add two new cable-laying vessels to its fleet by 2028 and 2029, enhancing its deployment and maintenance capabilities in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean regions.<\/p>\n

Next Steps and Challenges<\/h2>\n

Currently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed among a group of investors, including Canalink, GUILAB, International Mauritania Telecom, and others. This step initiates a route study to identify the most resilient and economically feasible path. Following that, the consortium will begin the bidding process for selecting a cable manufacturer.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s important to note that while this MoU signifies interest from prominent players, it does not guarantee immediate construction. Considerable uncertainties remain, including route specifics, total cable length, and financing details, which could delay operational readiness for several years.<\/p>\n

Competitive Landscape<\/h2>\n

The Via Africa project will enter a competitive market. Google’s Equiano and Meta’s extensive 2Africa infrastructure already service the same coastal regions, presenting potential challenges for Orange and its partners. The competition emphasizes the urgent need for unique positioning and technological differentiation in this critical arena.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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