Google announced the launch of Umoja, the first-ever fiber optic route directly linking Africa to Australia. Christened Umoja, the Swahili word for unity, the subsea cable was developed in collaboration with Liquid Technologies, and spans key African countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, before reaching Australia via the Indian Ocean. Umoja represents the first-ever direct fiber optic route linking Africa to Australia and promises heightened reliability and scalability, offering access points to facilitate broader network utilization across Africa.
Umoja, along with the 144 TBPS Equiano cable, is part of the Africa Connect program, aimed at bolstering regional and global connectivity. This distinct new route provides redundancy and creates a more resilient subsea cable network for Africa, empowering businesses, governments, and individuals alike.
The U.S Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman highlighted the critical role of digital infrastructure, saying “Access to the latest technology, supported by reliable and resilient digital infrastructure, is critical to growing economic opportunity. This is a meaningful moment for Kenya’s digital transformation journey and the benefits of today’s announcement will cascade across the region.”
Kenya President, Dr. William Ruto, welcomed Google’s investment in digital connectivity, recognizing its significance in enhancing global and regional digital infrastructure. He stressed the importance of strengthening the region’s digital backbone to foster increased digital inclusion, innovation, and economic opportunities. “This initiative is crucial in ensuring the redundancy and resilience of our region’s connectivity to the rest of the world, especially in light of recent disruptions caused by cuts to sub-sea cables. By strengthening our digital backbone, we are not only improving reliability but also paving the way for increased digital inclusion, innovation, and economic opportunities for our people and businesses,” he emphasized.
Liquid Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, highlighted the transformative impact of Umoja, envisioning major African cities as integral stations on a data superhighway, facilitating seamless connectivity and leaving no African behind. “I am proud that this project helps us deliver a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, regardless of how far they are from the technology centers of the world,” he said.
Google is also forging a partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Information Communications and The Digital Economy to accelerate joint efforts in cybersecurity, growing data-driven innovation, digital literacy and responsibly and safely deploying AI for societal benefits. Google Cloud and Kenya will explore the implementation of cybersecurity solutions and improve Kenya’s eCitizen platform with fortified web-facing infrastructure.
Google has invested more than $900m since 2021, in improved connectivity, investment in startups, aimed at boosting Africa’s digital transformation.
Kenya is emerging as an unexpected contender for digital infrastructure expansion in Africa. Technology giants such as Microsoft and Google are increasingly turning to Kenya to serve the East African market, with over $1 billion in investments announced within the last 48 hours. This influx of investment underscores Kenya’s forward-looking policies and has solidified its position as a premier destination for tech-driven development, propelling the nation toward an era of rapid digital transformation.
