A Sh379.9 billion fibre-optic cable backed by Meta and fronted by Safaricom is set to reshape Kenya’s internet backbone, creating a direct link between Mombasa and Oman by 2026.
The partnership, filed with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), identifies Safaricom as the project’s lead proponent.
Known as the Daraja Fibre Optic Cable, the system will introduce far greater capacity than current networks.
According to the Environmental Impact Assessment, “The Daraja Project is expected to go live in 2026, delivering much-needed internet capacity and enhanced reliability between Oman and Kenya, supplementing the fast-growing demand in both countries.”
Unlike existing undersea lines, which typically carry between 8 and 16 fibre pairs, Daraja will deploy 24, a step that industry watchers say will considerably boost speed and stability for the region.
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“The project will underpin the further growth of 4G, 5G, and fixed broadband access for hundreds of thousands of people,” the report further noted.
Safaricom recently secured approval from NEMA to land the cable at Nyali beach, with extensions mapped into Tanzanian waters.
For Kenya, the new system comes as relief after costly outages tied to breaks in the Red Sea and East African subsea cables disrupted connections earlier this year.
Meta’s investment fits within its plan to create a 50,000-kilometre global subsea network.
The company is already behind the 2Africa and Pearls cables, which span Africa, Asia, and Europe, linking dozens of markets into one digital corridor.
With Mombasa now hosting multiple systems, including Africa-1, PEACE, and DARE1, the coastal city is increasingly viewed as a strategic internet landing hub.
The arrival of Daraja is expected to reinforce that role, giving Kenya both resilience and a stronger foothold in global data routes.
