Trio Charts Ambitious Fiber Route to Rewire East Africa’s Digital Future

Feb 10 , 2026.

Ethio telecom, Djibouti Telecom, and Sudatel Group have formalised a tripartite agreement to launch the “Horizon Fiber Initiative,”a landmark project designed to build a cross-border and high-capacity terrestrial fiber optic network that interconnects Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

The agreement seeks to catalyse digital integration, improve bandwidth availability, and elevate the region’s standing in the global digital economy.

The agreement, signed at a ceremony attended by the chief executives of the three telecom giants, sets in motion the deployment of a high-capacity, cross-border optical fiber infrastructure, dubbed by its backers as a defining leap towards regional digital integration and connectivity.

“Through this tripartite agreement, we aren’t merely signing a contract,” said Frehiwot Tamru, CEO of Ethio telecom, outlining the scale of the ambition.“We’re building a shared digital future.”

According to Frehiwot, the Horizon Fiber Initiative marks a bold step in creating a resilient, high-capacity Africa-to-Africa connectivity corridor. By linking the submarine cable landing stations of Djibouti, passing through Ethiopia, and extending to Sudan, the new terrestrial route will form a secure, diversified, and scalable infrastructure, fortifying both regional and global digital networks.

Frehiwot sees the partnership as the “true source” of Horizon’s strength.

By combining infrastructure assets, technical know-how, and a shared vision, the initiative seeks to show how African operators can collaborate to solve connectivity challenges and deliver greater value to customers, enterprises, and hyperscalers.

“Together, we’re laying the foundation for a future-ready digital backbone, one that connects nations, empowers economies, and positions our region as a strong and reliable gateway in the global digital ecosystem,” said Frehiwot.

The event saw Mohamed A.Bouh, CEO of Djibouti Telecom, characterise the project as opening “a new chapter in the development and integration of telecommunications infrastructure in our region, with a common goal of progress and shared prosperity.” He stated that Horizon is proof that African operators can deliver world-class strategic infrastructure, strengthen their digital sovereignty, and assert their collective role on the world stage.

Magdi M. Abdalla Taha, CEO of Sudatel Group, echoed these sentiments and framed the initiative as a model of innovative partnership for Africa.

“Beyond infrastructure, Horizon stands as a living model of innovative partnership among African operators,” he said.“It demonstrates what becomes possible when visions align, priorities converge, and collaboration supplants competition. We view Horizon as a replicable benchmark for the rest of the continent.”

For Ethio telecom, the Horizon Fiber Initiative sits at the heart of its “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy. The project is designed to transform Ethiopia from a national operator into a regional leader in digital connectivity and infrastructure. By serving as a core enabler for advanced digital services such as cloud computing, data centres, enterprise solutions, and cross-border digital trade, it reinforces Ethiopia’s aspirations to become a strategic transit hub for regional and international digital traffic.

The agreement is also expected to play a role in meeting the surging demand for international bandwidth capacity, improving network resilience and redundancy, and supporting the growth from data, cloud services and fintech to e-commerce, AI, content delivery, and digital platforms across the region.

It plans to provide multi-terabit optical fiber capacity, carrier-grade low-latency international connectivity, and diversified, secure cross-border routes that will underpin regional digital resilience.

The three companies will leverage their complementary infrastructure, technical expertise, and operational strengths to deliver on the initiative’s promise. The focus will be on providing reliable, high-capacity, and secure connectivity for operators, enterprises, content providers, and hyperscalers.

The CEOs jointly stated that the Horizon Fiber Initiative reflects a shared vision of regional cooperation, innovative partnership, and inclusive digital transformation. They see that this commitment is about building a robust communications backbone to accelerate economic growth, support digital inclusion, and position the region as a competitive and trusted gateway in the global digital economy.

The partnership formalised through the Horizon Fiber Initiative is the result of a process that began with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Addis Abeba on December 3, 2024. The MoU recognised the need for a secure alternative international route, and since then, the three operators have worked together to develop the technical and commercial frameworks necessary for the project’s implementation.

The Horizon Fiber Initiative represents the tangible product of this collaboration and the discipline with which it was pursued.

By establishing a resilient terrestrial fiber corridor connecting international submarine cable landing stations in Djibouti, traversing Ethiopia, and reaching Sudan’s landing sites, the agreement marks a milestone in regional digital integration. It creates a scalable, secure, and diversified pathway that links East Africa to global digital networks and enhances the region’s role in the global digital ecosystem.

As the CEOs of Ethio telecom, Djibouti Telecom, and Sudatel Group noted at the ceremony, this is more than a technical project but an expression of shared ambition, disciplined execution, and a collective vision for Africa’s digital future.

PUBLISHED ON Feb 10,2026 [ VOL 26 , NO 1345]