Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA and Kenya have officially launched the redundancy route of the National Optic Fibre Cable network at the Horohoro border post, marking a major step in strengthening digital connectivity and regional integration across East Africa.
Speaking during the launch, Tanzania’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa and Kenya’s Minister for Information, Communications and Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau, jointly called for t he expansion of digital infrastructure across the African continent to accelerate digital transformation and economic development.
The newly launched redundancy route provides Tanzania with a critical alternative data path, linking to eight undersea cables via Kenya, cushioning the country against disruptions to its three marine cable connections in Dar es Salaam. “This route ensures Tanzania remains digitally connected even in the event of issues with our marine landing stations in Dar es Salaam.
It also strengthens regional data connectivity by providing faster, more reliable internet services across East and Central Africa,” Minister Silaa explained.
With this new development, Tanzania is now digitally linked with six regional countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Mozambique.
Mr Silaa also revealed that plans are underway to extend the fibre optic network to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), further reinforcing Tanzania’s role as a digital gateway for the region.
He commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her leadership in driving digital transformation, noting that the National Optic Fibre Cable (NOFBI) now spans 13,820 kilometres and covers 109 districts.
The minister added that the government plans to expand it to the remaining 30 districts in the current financial year.
Kenyan’s Minister, Mr William Kabogo Gitau stressed on the strategic significance of the redundancy link, stating that it is not just a technological achievement but a symbol of East African cooperation.
“This launch is a bold step toward building a united East African digital future. It lays the groundwork for a strong continental digital network that can compete globally,” Gitau said.
He also proposed the development of Horohoro as a smart border post, enabling real-time data sharing between Tanzanian and Kenyan authorities and showcasing the potential of regional digital collaboration.
Mr Kabogo explained that the launching signaled a shared vision for building a resilient, interconnected East African digital infrastructure that supports economic growth, innovation and regional integration.
On his part, the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) DirectorGeneral, Mr Moremi Marwa said the redundancy route operates at a speed of 1.6 terabits per second, making it one of the fastest data links in the region.
He traced the project’s origins to a 2005 government vision of establishing Tanzania as a regional ICT hub, with the rollout of the National Optic Fibre Cable network beginning in 2009.
Mr Marwa noted that several Kenyan companies have already started using the new link and encouraged Tanzanian telecom operators to follow suit and leverage its services to improve delivery.
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