Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan Telecom operators sign agreement to develop cross-border fibre corridor

Telecommunications operators from Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan have formalized a strategic partnership to enhance regional digital connectivity through the launch of a new cross-border fibre-optic corridor.

Djibouti Telecom, Ethio Telecom, and Sudatel Group signed a tripartite agreement in Djibouti to establish the Horizon Fiber Initiative, a project designed to link international submarine cable landing stations in Djibouti with Ethiopia and onward to Sudan. The partners described the initiative as a “high-capacity terrestrial fiber corridor connecting the Djibouti international submarine cable landing stations, through Ethiopia, and onward to Sudan’s landing stations, creating a resilient and scalable regional connectivity route linking East Africa and beyond.” that will strengthen access to global digital networks. Financial details of the project were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, the three operators will deploy a high-capacity, multi-terabit optical fibre corridor that connects Djibouti’s international subsea cable gateways, among the most important in Africa, through Ethiopian territory to Sudan’s landing stations, including Port Sudan, which connects to cable systems serving the Middle East and Europe. Djibouti City already hosts several major submarine cable systems, including Seacom, Sea-Me-We-6, AAE-1, and DARE.

The initiative aims to address rising demand for data traffic, cloud services, hyperscale connectivity, and cross-border data flows by expanding international bandwidth capacity and enhancing network resilience and redundancy across the region.

According to the partners, Horizon Fiber will leverage existing infrastructure while integrating the latest fibre-optic technologies to deliver multi-terabit capacity, carrier-grade low-latency international connectivity, diversified cross-border routes, and improved service reliability for operators, enterprises, and global technology companies.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Ethio Telecom Chief Executive Officer Frehiwot Tamiru, Djibouti Telecom CEO Mohamed Assoweh Bouh, and Sudatel Group CEO Magdi M. Abdalla Taha. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tamiru said the partnership went beyond a commercial agreement.

“Through this tripartite agreement, we are not merely signing a contract – we are building a shared digital future,” she said, describing the project as “a bold step toward a resilient, high-capacity, Africa-to-Africa connectivity corridor.”

She added that the initiative would help position the region as “a strong and reliable gateway in the global digital ecosystem,” while laying the foundation for a future-ready digital backbone capable of supporting economic growth and digital transformation.

Djibouti Telecom CEO Mohamed Assoweh Bouh described the agreement as a “new chapter in the development and integration of telecommunications infrastructure” in Eastern Africa, emphasizing Djibouti’s role as a strategic hub for international data traffic arriving via submarine cables.

Sudatel Group CEO Magdi M. Abdalla Taha highlighted the broader implications of the project, noting that Horizon Fiber represents more than infrastructure development. “Beyond infrastructure, Horizon stands as a living model of innovative partnership among African operators,” he said.

According to a joint statement, the Horizon Fiber Initiative is the result of nearly two years of coordinated technical and strategic work among the three operators. The process began with in-depth discussions and was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in Addis Ababa on December 4, 2024. Technical teams from all three companies have been closely involved in designing the new infrastructure to ensure high availability, scalability, and long-term sustainability.

The project holds particular significance for Sudan, as it provides an additional and more resilient route for international connectivity amid ongoing challenges facing the country’s telecommunications sector. Ethiopia, meanwhile, is positioned as a key regional digital transit corridor, while Djibouti further consolidates its status as a critical landing and distribution point for submarine cable traffic serving Africa and beyond.

The partners said technical implementation will begin in the coming period, with timelines to be established for bringing the new digital corridor into operation. Once operational, the Horizon Fiber Initiative is expected to improve service stability, enhance user experience, reduce connectivity costs over time, and strengthen the region’s readiness to participate more fully in the global digital economy.

The agreement comes amid a broader regional push to invest in digital infrastructure as a foundation for economic development, digital inclusion, and the attraction of technology-driven investment.