Meta Platforms, Inc., (NASDAQ:META), the owner of WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Family of Apps (FoA), has picked Safaricom PLC (NSE:SCOM) as landing partner in the Daraja Fibre Optic Cable Project. Meta is set to bring its second submarine cable to Kenya through its subsidiary Edge Network Services Limited, and the new high-capacity cable is set to connect Oman and Kenya.
The cable spans 4,108 kilometres is set to be fully funded by Edge Network Services, and operators in Oman and Kenya with appropriate licenses and documentation will be contracted to operate the cable in their territories. The arrangement will also see the licensed operators manage the associated infrastructure in their respective countries.
Daraja Project to Cost USD 3B
The project is worth USD 2.9 billion/KES 379.9 billion and it is expected to enhance digital infrastructure connection between East Africa and the Middle East. The Daraja project is set to enhance existing undersea cable projects in Kenya including SEACOM, TEAMS, EASSY, Lion 2, DARE 1, PEACE, and ongoing projects including Africa1 and 2Africa.
The partnership is set to bolster Safaricom’s capabilities in voice, data and mobile money services, placing it at the forefront of digitalization in East and Central Africa. According to statistics from the Communications Authority of Kenya, mobile data subscriptions totaled 58.6 million as sat the end of June 2025, up 11.5% relative to June 2024. 4G connections dominated the subscriptions at 37.2 million, while 5G subscriptions were 1.2 million, up by 0.5 million relative to June 2024.
The total lit or available international bandwidth capacity in the country grew by 5% to 22,311.445 Gbps in Apr-Jun 2025 from 21,244.338 Gbps in Apr-Jun 2024. Undersea bandwidth capacity sold and utilized in Kenya closed at 10,735 Gbps in June 2025 from 11,690 Gbps in Jun 2024. 2,953.8 Gbps was sold in other countries in the quarter ended June 2025, which compares to 2,953.82Gbps in the quarter ended June 2024.
Project strengthens Safaricom’s Data Proposition
The project is expected to bolster Safaricom’s data capabilities to meet the growing market for high-latency data as data subscriptions grow and data centers take root in the region.
In the fiscal year ended 31st March 2025, Safaricom earned KES 79 billion in data revenues, a growth of KES 12 billion or 16% when compared to the fiscal year ended 31st March 2024. The data revenues accounted for 20% of gross revenues in the year, as compared to 4% in FY 2010 and 16% in FY 2018. Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa notes that the project is set to power growth and enhance digital innovation in the region.
“This deal is a significant strategic milestone for us at Safaricom as we mark 25 years and signals our readiness to transition into a fully-fledged tech company in line with our vision 2030 strategy. It positions us to meet the surging demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity which is critical for powering economic growth, cloud adoption, and digital innovation.” Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom PLC CEO.
