BAYOBAB Kenya, a division of the Bayobab Group under MTN Group’s digital infrastructure arm, has announced the completion of a pivotal fibre optic network that connects Mombasa to Uganda, passing through the key border towns of Malaba and Busia. This new infrastructure is set to significantly enhance digital connectivity across East Africa.
The newly established fibre network will facilitate direct connectivity from Kenya into Uganda via Malaba and Busia, providing further reach into Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Bayobab Kenya’s managing director, Sylvia Anampiu, emphasised the importance of this network, noting that it will improve the reliability of internet services across these regions and contribute to their economic development.
‘This connection from Mombasa to Malaba is more than just a technological advancement; it’s a strategic move to boost economic growth and integration across Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC,’ Anampiu stated.
The network follows the path of Kenya’s metre gauge railway, covering over 1,000 kilometres on the Kenyan side. This route not only brings internet access to towns along the railway but also offers Internet Service Providers (ISPs) the chance to utilise Bayobab Kenya’s open access fibre as a robust backbone for expanding their services.
This project is part of Bayobab Kenya’s broader initiative, the National Long-Distance fibre project, which began with the Mombasa-to-Malaba connection along the Kenya Pipeline route in 2022. It also aligns with Project East2West, an ambitious effort launched last year to build a fibre optic network connecting Africa’s eastern and western coasts.
Bayobab’s investment in this fibre network underscores its commitment to expanding digital infrastructure across the continent, aligning with its Ambition 2025 goal of constructing 135,000 kilometres of proprietary fibre across Africa.
