Seacom 2.0 Brings New Submarine Cable to Power Africa’s Digital Growth

In 2009, SEACOM’s first submarine cable rewired Africa’s internet. For the first time, the East Coast of the continent could access international bandwidth at a scale and cost that changed how people and businesses came online. Fifteen years later, the company is betting big again with SEACOM 2.0, a system designed for an entirely different digital world, one shaped by cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data-heavy services.

The new system will carry 48 fibre pairs, far more than its predecessor, and is engineered for resilience. Diversified routes and carrier-neutral landing stations are meant to reduce the vulnerability of single connection points, a weakness that has caused costly disruptions in the past. This isn’t just about capacity; it’s about creating a backbone that can handle the scale of Africa’s next wave of digital growth.

SEACOM is also rethinking the role of landing stations. Instead of serving only as gateways, the company wants them to function as AI communication hubs. That means countries could link directly into global data centers while also running local analytics, IoT systems, and smart city applications closer to home. It’s an attempt to give African nations more control over their data while setting up infrastructure that supports sovereign digital economies.

The opportunities are clear. Startups could see lower connectivity costs, governments could power digital services more effectively, and landlocked regions could finally access more reliable backhaul without being held back by geography. If it works, the benefits would ripple across the continent.

But the risks are just as real. Submarine cables cost billions to deploy and maintain, and SEACOM has already faced financial strain from repairs and outages in recent years. Regulatory approvals across multiple countries can be slow and political. And even if the cable delivers world-class capacity, weak terrestrial networks and last-mile connections may prevent ordinary users from feeling the impact. Without those pieces in place, much of SEACOM 2.0’s potential could remain locked in coastal cities and data centers.

Still, it’s the kind of ambition Africa’s digital economy needs. Cloud adoption is accelerating, AI is driving new demand, and populations are increasingly digital-first. A network that can support that growth isn’t optional; it’s essential. SEACOM 2.0 may not solve every challenge, but it could become the foundation for Africa’s internet over the next generation.