Telkom Kenya is reported to be investing in yet another submarine fibre optic cable system to complement the government-owned telecommunications firm’s existing undersea networks. The planned cable will be Kenya’s sixth connection to the rest of the globe, connecting the country to Asia and Europe.
Telkom is a local partner in the cable, which will go by Pakistan and East Africa Connecting to Europe (PEACE). It is owned by Peace Cable International Network, a subsidiary of Chengtong Group. “When completed, the high-speed Peace cable system will provide the shortest routes from China to Europe and Africa, interconnecting three of the world’s most populous continents,” Telkom Kenya said in an environmental impact assessment submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) as part of the project’s application for approval.
“Telkom Kenya is the Peace Cable landing party and project proponent for the Peace Cable landing in Kenya.” The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. The cable connects France, Pakistan, and Kenya to expand to South Africa in the second phase. Since the East African Marine System and privately-owned Seacom in 2009, it will be the sixth undersea cable to dock in Mombasa. The two and future undersea cables provided massive bandwidth and high-speed internet while lowering connectivity costs. The digital economy of the country has been revolutionised as a result of this over the last decade.
Telkom Kenya is a shareholder in the Lower Indian Ocean Network (Lion), the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (Eassy), and the Djibouti Africa Regional Express 1 (Dare1) submarine cable networks, putting it at the centre of the region’s largest submarine cable network.
