Wired and Wireless: The Fibre Optic and Satellite Infrastructure Powering East Africa’s Digital Leap

Despite being home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, East Africa’s internet penetration rate remains below 40%, lagging significantly behind the global average of 66.2%. Approximately 70% of East Africa’s population lives in rural areas, where traditional connectivity infrastructure is often inaccessible or unreliable. 

Fibre optics and satellites are changing this reality. Fibre optics, with their unparalleled speed and bandwidth, are ideal for connecting urban hubs and creating reliable backbones for data-intensive activities. However, installing fibre infrastructure in geographically challenging areas like mountainous regions remains costly and logistically difficult as the cables break if bent significantly. Here, satellites step in, providing broad coverage to reach underserved regions without the need for extensive ground infrastructure. 

Together, these technologies foster economic growth by enabling e-commerce, digital banking, and remote work opportunities, while driving inclusivity by providing rural communities with access to online education, telemedicine, and government services. This dual-pronged approach isn’t only bridging the digital divide but also empowering millions across East Africa to participate in the global digital economy. 

Historical Context: East Africa’s Connectivity Challenges 

For decades, East Africa’s connectivity infrastructure has been hindered by a legacy of underinvestment and geographical obstacles. Rugged terrains and financial constraints have left terrestrial infrastructure underdeveloped, isolating rural communities from digital opportunities. These areas, home to the majority of East Africa’s population, remain disadvantaged, with limited access to reliable internet or telecommunications services. 

Much of the region's internet infrastructure has historically relied on submarine cables, such as those in the Red Sea, which link East Africa to global networks. While these cables deliver high-speed internet to urban centres, they are susceptible to vulnerabilities, including disruptions from geopolitical tensions or physical damage, leading to outages and inflated costs. Moreover, their urban-centric presence has further widened the rural-urban connectivity gap. 

Figure 1. Map highlighting network of submarine cables. Source.  

Satellite technology is seen as a potential solution to reach remote areas, but traditional geostationary satellites came with high costs and significant latency issues, making them an impractical option for widespread use. However, the emergence of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, such as Starlink, has revolutionised this domain by offering faster speeds, lower latency, and more affordable solutions for hard-to-reach communities. 

Fibre Optics: Building a Terrestrial Digital Highway 

The deployment of fibre optic networks across East Africa is reshaping the region’s digital infrastructure. Central to this transformation are ambitious projects like the Horizon Fiber Initiative, a multi-terabit fibre network connecting Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Sudan. This network aims to bypass the vulnerabilities of submarine cables, while offering significant advantages in cost efficiency, reduced latency, and easier maintenance compared to undersea alternatives. By providing a more reliable and resilient infrastructure, the Horizon Fiber Initiative supports both regional integration and Africa’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2030, which envisions a connected and digitally empowered continent. 

The push for terrestrial fibre expansion has spurred collaborative efforts among nations and organisations. For instance, Tanzania’s Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) and Uganda’s National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) have agreed to add Uganda to Tanzania’s ongoing regional fibre loop, fostering cross-border integration. These projects are critical for enabling hyperscalers - large-scale cloud service providers - to establish regional data centres, accelerating the adoption of cloud computing and digital services. Such initiatives have profound economic implications, facilitating cross-border trade by enhancing communication, logistics, and financial transactions between countries. 

Despite its promise, the rollout of fibre optic infrastructure in East Africa faces significant hurdles. High upfront costs, including the procurement of equipment and the need for skilled labour, pose barriers to large-scale implementation. One kilometre of fibre optic cables can cost between $15,000 and $30,000. These challenges are further exacerbated in conflict-prone areas, such as Uganda’s rural north, where instability hinders construction timelines.  

Another persistent issue is the lack of last-mile connectivity in rural areas. For instance, while Rwanda has made strides in expanding its national fibre backbone, rural regions like the Western Province remain underserved due to the prohibitive costs of extending fibre to sparsely populated areas. This gap highlights the need for complementary technologies, such as satellite solutions, to ensure that fibre’s benefits reach even the most remote communities. 

Satellite Technology: Connecting the Unreachable 

Elon Musk’s Starlink has created a significant ripple in East Africa’s connectivity landscape, offering high-speed internet at competitive prices. In Kenya, Starlink has introduced more affordable portable options, such as the Starlink Mini, which has made the service accessible to a wider audience. The competition triggered by Starlink has prompted local providers, such as Safaricom, to lower prices and upgrade fibre speeds in a bid to retain market share. This dynamic interplay is driving innovation and affordability across the industry. 

Satellite networks are not one-size-fits-all; instead, they are leveraging a hybrid model combining low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites. LEO constellations, such as Starlink, offer low-latency, high-speed connectivity ideal for modern applications like video conferencing and real-time data transfer. However, their coverage is limited to areas within their satellite swarms. In contrast, GEO satellites provide broader coverage but suffer from higher latency, making them less suited for latency-sensitive tasks. 

Hybrid solutions, advocated by companies like Hughes Network Systems, combine the strengths of both LEO and GEO technologies, delivering a balanced approach to cost, speed, and reliability. These solutions are also unlocking innovations like Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite services, which enable users to connect directly to satellites using smartphones, bypassing traditional ground infrastructure. This feature is particularly transformative for emergency situations and rural communities where ground networks are scarce or non-existent. 

Challenges and Criticisms  

Despite the promise of fibre optics and satellite technologies, significant challenges and criticisms remain. These issues highlight the complexity of achieving equitable and sustainable connectivity for the region. 

The ecological impact of connectivity infrastructure is a pressing issue. The deployment of undersea cables has been criticised for disrupting marine ecosystems, while the increasing volume of satellite debris in Earth’s orbit raises concerns about long-term sustainability. Additionally, data sovereignty remains a contentious topic. Initiatives like Meta’s Free Basics have faced backlash for extracting user data from African nations while providing limited and controlled internet access. Such practices raise questions about the role of foreign corporations in the region’s digital transformation and their potential to undermine local digital sovereignty and self-reliance. 

Regulatory challenges also impede progress. In Kenya, disputes over licensing have delayed Starlink’s urban expansion, creating bottlenecks in the rollout of affordable and reliable internet services. These regulatory hurdles often stem from misalignment between governments and private companies, highlighting the need for more streamlined and transparent policymaking to foster innovation while safeguarding national interests. 

Future Outlook 

Innovation continues to redefine connectivity solutions, with promising developments on the horizon: 

• 5G Satellite Backhaul: Kenya is piloting 5G satellite backhaul trials through a collaboration between Safaricom and Aviat Networks.  

• Rwanda’s Satellite Constellation: Rwanda has taken bold steps to enter the satellite industry by launching its own satellite constellation. This initiative reflects a growing commitment among East African nations to leverage space-based technology to address connectivity gaps, particularly in rural and remote areas. With the ability to cover vast geographic areas, these satellites will play a critical role in bringing affordable and reliable internet to unconnected communities. 

The global race to deploy over one million satellites in the coming years presents opportunities and challenges for East Africa. While this expansion could lower costs and improve access, it also necessitates careful management of orbital space and environmental concerns, as well as ensuring regional countries benefit from these advancements.  

To sustain momentum and maximise the impact of these technological breakthroughs, proactive policy measures are essential: 

• Harmonising EAC Regulations: Streamlining policies within the East African Community (EAC) can foster cross-border fibre deployment and spectrum sharing. This collaboration would not only reduce costs but also ensure seamless connectivity across the region, promoting economic integration and inclusivity. 

• Broadband for All in Uganda: Uganda's commitment to universal broadband access provides a blueprint for other nations in the region. Prioritising last-mile connectivity through targeted investments and public-private partnerships can significantly close the digital divide, particularly in rural areas. 

By aligning technological innovation with forward-thinking policies, East Africa is well-positioned to accelerate its digital transformation. 

Conclusion 

Fibre optics and satellite technologies are undeniably reshaping East Africa’s digital landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities to bridge connectivity gaps and drive economic growth. To unlock the true potential of East Africa’s digital future, regional collaboration and local innovation must take centre stage. Policymakers across East Africa should work together to harmonise regulations, facilitate cross-border infrastructure projects, and ensure that digital strategies prioritise the needs of local communities. Furthermore, sovereignty-focused policies should be implemented to safeguard local control over data and digital infrastructure while fostering balanced foreign partnerships that benefit both regional economies and global players. 

With these principles in mind, East Africa can create a connected, equitable, and sustainable digital ecosystem that empowers all Africans and sets the stage for a prosperous digital future.