In a significant development for Pakistan’s digital connectivity, the Africa-1 submarine cable has been successfully integrated into the country’s internet infrastructure. This move is expected to alleviate recent internet disruptions and improve overall network performance.
The 10,000-kilometer-long high-capacity cable, which links Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and France, has been connected to the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) exchange.
PTCL announced this milestone in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, revealing that a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for February 22, 2025, at PTCL’s landing site at Sea View, Karachi, to mark the official connection. “This marks a transformative milestone in advancing Pakistan’s digital connectivity,” the notification stated.
The Africa-1 project, approved by PTCL’s Board of Directors in November 2020, represents an investment of $59.5 million. It aims to strengthen connectivity between the UAE, Europe, and Africa through multiple landing stations along its route. PTCL disclosed that it began investing in the initiative in 2021 as part of its capital expenditure (CAPEX) plan. By 2025, nearly 75% of the total investment is expected to be completed, with the full project cost realized within the year.
The Africa-1 submarine cable is projected to be Ready for Service (RFS) by the first quarter of 2026, after which PTCL anticipates generating revenue from the project, contributing positively to the company’s financial growth.
This development comes as Pakistan faces frequent internet disruptions. Last month, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication that four new submarine cables were being introduced to strengthen the country’s internet infrastructure.
With the integration of Africa-1, Pakistan takes a crucial step toward improving internet reliability, boosting connectivity, and fostering digital growth.
