Google to start construction of first undersea fiber optic cable connecting Africa and Australia

Google is building a new undersea fiber optic cable to connect the Mother Continent to the Land Down Under. 

Dubbed Umoja (the Swahili word for "unity"), the new cable will build the first undersea fiber optic connection between Africa and Australia. Umoja will begin in Kenya and run through Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. From there, it will run under the Indian Ocean, terminating in Australia. 

Along the overland route through Africa, Umoja will include access points to connect areas through which it runs. 

Umoja is a part of Google's Africa Connect initiative, which includes the company's Equiano fiber optic cable. Completed in March 2023, Equiano runs from Cape Town, South Africa, along the western coast of Africa under the Atlantic Sea. The cable has several junction points and terminates in Lisbon, Portugal. 

Speaking about the future impact of Umajo, Kenya's president, Dr. William S. Ruto, said:

The new intercontinental fiber optic route will significantly enhance our global and regional digital infrastructure. This initiative is crucial in ensuring the redundancy and resilience of our region’s connectivity to the rest of the world, especially in light of recent disruptions caused by cuts to sub-sea cables. By strengthening our digital backbone, we are not only improving reliability but also paving the way for increased digital inclusion, innovation, and economic opportunities for our people and businesses.

In addition to building out the infrastructure for the new network connection, Google will work with the Kenyan government to improve cybersecurity in the nation, particularly with regard to Kenya's eCitizen digital platform. 

Google did not disclose current project cost or time estimates as of press time.

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