Submarine fiber-optic cables landing at Mombasa transformed Kenya's internet access and enabled the tech sector. Cables deployed since 2009 (SEACOM, TEAMS, EASSy, LION2) reduced bandwidth costs from USD 1000+ per Mbps to USD 1-5 per Mbps.
Overview
Submarine cables are the backbone of East Africa's internet infrastructure. Kenya's cables connect to global internet backbone networks, enabling digital commerce, fintech, and online services.
Key Points
- Multiple cables land at Mombasa (redundancy is critical)
- Cost reduction enabled Silicon Savannah
- Bandwidth availability is crucial for tech innovation
- Competition between cable operators affects pricing
Outlook
Cable capacity will continue expanding as demand grows. Local content infrastructure and data centers are becoming important.
See Also
- Silicon Savannah
- Mombasa Port
- Telecommunications Kenya
- Digital Infrastructure Kenya
- Internet History Kenya
- Technology Kenya
- East Africa Connectivity
Sources
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Government of Kenya. "Sector Reports and Statistics." https://www.go.ke/
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World Bank Kenya Studies. https://www.worldbank.org/
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African Development Bank Research. https://www.afdb.org/
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GSMA Intelligence. "Kenya Sector Analysis." https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/
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Central Bank of Kenya. "Annual Reports." https://www.centralbank.go.ke/