2Africa submarine cable lands in Pakistan, to be operational by late 2025

The 2Africa submarine internet cable, the world’s longest, has arrived at Hawke’s Bay in Karachi, promising a significant boost to internet speed and reliability in Pakistan.

The cable, stretching 45,000 kilometers, connects 46 landing stations across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with Pakistan joining as part of the 2Africa Pearl extension.

Led by a global consortium that includes China Mobile International, Meta, and Vodafone, the 2Africa project brings 24 terabits per second (Tbps) bandwidth to Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan relies on approximately 8 terabits of bandwidth provided by seven existing cables.

The cable’s total capacity is 180Tbps, making it the fastest submarine cable to reach the country.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed the landing and highlighted its role in facilitating Transworld Associates (TWA), the cable’s landing partner in Pakistan. The initiative is expected to boost internet speeds and improve access to digital services, including Meta content, for millions of users in the region.

Amiruddin, Chief Technical Officer of Transworld, stated that the cable, which connects from Africa to Oman and then to Pakistan, will enhance Pakistan’s digital infrastructure. The cable uses advanced SDM1 technology and spans an impressive 16 fiber pairs.

Major step

Phase 1 of the project, the Pre-Lay Shore End (PLSE) installation, commenced on December 1, 2024, with the deep-sea cable lay scheduled for April 2025. The system is set to be fully operational by late 2025.

“This is a major step forward for Digital Pakistan,” said Amiruddin. “The cable will bring unparalleled capacity and improve connectivity across the country.”

The 2Africa cable, developed by a consortium including Meta and seven other global partners, aims to meet growing demand for internet bandwidth as digital content consumption soars.

Its integration into Pakistan’s telecommunications network is expected to support economic growth, digital innovation, and better global connectivity for businesses and individuals alike.

Slow internet

The development comes as users across Pakistan have faced slow internet connections for several months, including difficulty downloading media on WhatsApp and frequent connectivity issues.

According to the World Population Review, which uses data from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index and Cable, Pakistan’s average download speed is 7.85 Mbps. The median mobile download speed stands at 19.59 Mbps, while the median broadband download speed is 15.52 Mbps.

As of May 2023, Pakistan ranked among the countries with the slowest internet speeds globally, according to reports analyzing the nation’s digital landscape and human rights situation.

The addition of the 2Africa cable is expected to address some of these challenges, providing a much-needed upgrade to the country’s internet infrastructure.