South Africa has breathed new life into the ambitious 11,750km SAEx East Cable project, which will connect Cape Town and Singapore via the Indian Ocean, with plans to connect Singapore to India and Thailand in the future.
The project, backed by South Africa's state-owned financial institution Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), will mark a major leap forward for Africa's digital infrastructure and economic potential by improving internet speed, stability and global connectivity.
The route of the submarine cable will include landing points in East London and Amanzimtoti on the South African coast, passing through islands such as Reunion and Mauritius, and eventually reaching Malaysia and Singapore. The design also incorporates branching units to allow for future connections to countries such as India and Thailand.
The project is strategically important as it creates a direct internet connection between the two continents of Asia and Africa while avoiding the congested and geopolitically sensitive Red Sea corridor. By choosing a deep-sea route, the cable is expected to reduce dependence on terrestrial infrastructure and provide a more stable and secure data transmission path.
The South African landing station will also connect to other major regional systems, including the Equiano cable and the 2Africa cable. The integration is expected to enhance regional connectivity and performance.
In the next phase, the cable system is planned to extend westward across the Atlantic Ocean, eventually connecting South Africa and South America and landing in Virginia Beach, USA. Once fully developed, the expanded system will be called the SAEx Southern Ocean Network.
Once completed, the project is expected to significantly upgrade Africa's submarine communications infrastructure, improving bandwidth, reliability and internet access across the continent. The project will also enhance Africa's digital readiness and open the door to broader economic prospects by improving international connectivity.