Bayobab Kenya, a division of Bayobab Group and the digital infrastructure arm of MTN Group, has completed its terrestrial fiber network connecting Mombasa to Uganda through the border cities of Malaba and Busia.
This new fiber network is expected to enhance connectivity to Uganda and extend access to Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), significantly improving reliability in the region with the opportunity to connect a total population of 170 million people across the four countries. Sylvia Anampiu, Managing Director of Bayobab Kenya, stated, “By connecting Mombasa to Malaba, we aim to create a seamless pathway to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and DRC, fostering economic development and growth across these countries.”
The network follows the route of Kenya Railway’s metre gauge railway line, covering over 1,000 kilometers on the Kenyan side, and presents opportunities for towns along this route to gain internet connectivity. It also enables Internet Service Providers (ISPs) looking to expand their services in the area to utilize Bayobab Kenya’s open access fiber infrastructure as a high-capacity backbone.
This initiative is part of Bayobab Kenya’s National Long-Distance Fiber Project, which began its first phase in 2022, extending from Mombasa to Malaba along the Kenya Pipeline route. It is also aligned with Project East2West, launched last year, aimed at establishing a terrestrial fiber optic cable network that connects East Africa to the western shores of the continent.
“Our strategic investment in Kenya’s segment of the East2West Fiber Project underscores our dedication to pushing the boundaries of telecommunications infrastructure through our Ambition 2025 of building 135,000 km of proprietary fiber across Africa,” Anampiu added.
