It is the largest populated coastline in the world without a fibre optic connection, but East Africa will finally be hooked up properly by this October.
The 9,300 miles long cable will cost around £322 million to install and will connect to the international grid in France and India. Most of the money comes from African investors.
This new cable will significantly change the communications network across East Africa, a region that otherwise relies on expensive satellite connections. This has made the continent one of the most expensive for internet access and phone calls.
Cutting costs
Currently, it costs around a whopping £75 a month to run an internet and phone connection in Kenya. This new fibre optic cable will significantly reduce these costs.
Speaking to the Guardian about the significance of the cable to Africa, Nicholas Nesbitt, CEO of African start-up company, Kencall, said: "For a country to be without fibre-optic links today is like being without a harbour in the past – you are landlocked."
Although the cable is being laid in October, the system won't be up and running till 2010 – just in time for the football World Cup that South Africa will be hosting. This should take some of the strain away from South Africa's single undersea cable connection.
