Airtel Africa has partnered with Nokia to construct a high-speed terrestrial fiber network across East and Central Africa. The project, led by Airtel’s wholesale fiber unit Telesonic, aims to boost internet access and support growing data demands on the continent.
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For landlocked countries like Uganda, reliable high-speed internet has been a challenge. This new network will serve as the country’s primary link to global internet infrastructure by directly connecting to the 2Africa submarine cable—one of the largest undersea cable systems landing in Africa. The fiber backbone will span multiple countries, linking submarine cables to inland networks. This setup ensures faster, more affordable, and resilient connectivity, especially critical for Uganda’s digital economy.
Nokia is deploying its 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) platform, powered by high-speed Photonic Service Engine (PSE) technology. Key specs include:
- Up to 38 Tbps capacity per fiber pair
- C+L Band ready for future expansion
- 139-node DWDM network across the region
This setup enables ultra-fast data transfer, supports cloud services, and handles massive web-scale traffic growth.
The partnership was announced at AfricaCom 2025, the continent’s biggest telecom and connectivity conference, currently taking place in Cape Town.
Beyond raw speed, the project supports:
- Businesses with wholesale data services
- Education through better online access
- Healthcare via telemedicine and digital records
- Economic development by enabling e-commerce, fintech, and innovation
With data demand surging across Africa, this fiber mega-project lays the foundation for a more connected, competitive, and inclusive digital future—starting with Uganda’s direct line to the global internet.
