East African Operators Formalize Horizon Fiber Network Agreement to Boost Regional Connectivity
East Africa’s major telecom operators—Ethio Telecom, Djibouti Telecom, and Sudatel Group—have transitioned their memorandum of understanding into a binding agreement to create Horizon Fiber, a high-capacity cross-border optical fiber network. According to DevelopingTelecoms, the initiative aims to bolster network resilience and expand connectivity across the region.
From Concept to Formalized Agreement
The original memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Horizon Fiber was signed in December 2024, and the newly formalized partnership solidifies a roadmap for the project’s execution. The fiber network will connect subsea cable landing stations in Djibouti to key hubs in Ethiopia and Sudan, creating a scalable terrestrial route that enhances both regional and international connectivity.
Designed to deliver multi-terabit capacity, Horizon Fiber is expected to attract hyperscaler investments by offering improved redundancy, lower latency, and diversified routes. Officials emphasized the project’s potential to position East Africa as a leading digital gateway, connecting the continent’s ecosystems with Europe and Asia.
Market Implications and Strategic Vision
The deal signals a coordinated effort to bridge regional infrastructure gaps and strengthen Africa’s connectivity role in the global digital economy. Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru highlighted the partnership’s goal to establish East Africa as a “strong and reliable gateway in the global digital ecosystem,” while Djibouti Telecom CEO Mohamed Assoweh Bouh underscored the economic opportunities stemming from joint investments in “world-class strategic infrastructure.”
For hyperscalers and enterprises, the Horizon Fiber route could open new market opportunities by enabling business expansion, reducing transit costs, and improving service reliability across the region. Sudatel CEO Magdi M. Abdalla Taha described the project as “a replicable benchmark for the rest of the continent,” signaling that similar collaboration models could emerge across Africa.
Future Prospects in Telecom Infrastructure
Industry analysts see Horizon Fiber as part of Africa’s ongoing surge in fiber deployment, driven by increasing data demands and global connectivity imperatives. With its multi-terabit capacity, the project could become a critical backbone for expanding cloud services, data centers, and digital commerce in the region.
The timing of the agreement aligns with a broader push for digital sovereignty in Africa, where governments and operators are emphasizing localized infrastructure to reduce dependency on foreign routing paths. As global connectivity routes see increasing strain, the Horizon Fiber initiative could deliver long-term benefits in terms of both resilience and economic positioning.
How will Horizon Fiber reshape regional telecom markets and Africa’s role in global connectivity? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
