Karachi has taken a significant step towards enhanced digital connectivity with the successful landing of the Africa-1 submarine internet cable by the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL). The high-capacity cable made its landfall at Sea View Beach, marking a major milestone for the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure.
According to PTCL, the Africa-1 cable, which boasts a speed of 96 terabits per second, is expected to become operational next year. This development is part of an eight-company global consortium effort, which includes notable partners such as Saudi Arabia’s Mobily, UAE’s e& and G42, Telecom Egypt, Zain Omantel International, Algeria’s Algérie Télécom, and TeleYemen.
Spanning 10,000 kilometers, the cable system leverages advanced technologies to link Pakistan with a slew of countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, France, Kenya, and Djibouti. Aside from Karachi, the Africa-1 cable has designated landing points in prominent locations such as Bejaia, Algeria; Djibouti City, Djibouti; Port Said and Ras Ghareb, Egypt; Marseille, France; Mombasa, Kenya; Duba, Saudi Arabia; Berbera, Somalia; Kalba, UAE; and Al Hudaydah, Yemen.
Syed Muhammad Shoaib, PTCL’s Group Vice President of International Business, highlighted the strategic alignment of this project with Pakistan’s Digital Vision 2030, emphasizing the company’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering communities through improved connectivity.
The arrival of Africa-1 comes shortly after the December landing of the Africa-2 cable by Transworld Associates, also in Karachi. Both cables are anticipated to enhance Pakistan’s internet capacity significantly upon becoming operational next year.
Currently, Pakistan’s internet is served by six submarine cables with a collective capacity of 13 terabits per second. These include cables managed by PTCL such as Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1), South East Asia-Middle East-West Europe 4 (SMW4), and India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE), as well as South East Asia-Middle East-West Europe 5 (SMW-5) and Transworld Associates 1 (TWA-1) operated by Transworld Associates. Cyber Internet Services operates the sixth cable, known as Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE).
This new infrastructure is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the increasing demand for high-speed internet services in Pakistan, facilitating better connectivity and supporting the country’s digital transformation initiatives.
