East Africa optical cable height

The EASSy cable is a 9,000–10,500 km undersea fiber-optic system connecting Eastern Africa to global networks, though specific height or depth details are not publicly disclosed.

Cable Route and Coverage

The Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) runs along the East African coast from Port Sudan in Sudan to Mtunzini in South Africa, with landing points in countries including Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mozambique. It also connects to at least ten landlocked countries, providing them with high-capacity Internet access without relying on satellite links.

Technical Specifications

Length: Approximately 9,000–10,500 km Capacity: 2 fiber-pair configuration with a design capacity of over 10 terabits per second (Tbit/s) Purpose: Provides direct connectivity between Eastern Africa and Europe/North America, reducing reliance on expensive satellite or rerouted international traffic Resilience: Built-in end-to-end redundancy and interconnection with multiple international submarine cable networks Landing StationsKey landing points include Port Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, and South Africa, with co-located stations for other regional cables like SEAS in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

These stations facilitate terrestrial distribution to inland countries.

Operational History

The project was initiated in 2003, entered service on 16 July 2010, and began commercial operations on 30 July 2010. It was partially funded by the World Bank and managed by a consortium of regional and international telecom operators. Note on Cable Height/DepthSubmarine cables like EASSy are typically buried under the seabed in shallow coastal areas and laid directly on the ocean floor in deep waters, with depth varying from a few meters near shore to several thousand meters in deep ocean trenches.

Exact height or depth profiles are not publicly disclosed due to security and operational reasons, but the cable is engineered to withstand ocean currents, fishing activity, and other environmental factors. ImpactEASSy significantly reduces the cost of intra-African telecommunications, improves Internet speed and reliability, and supports economic and social development across Eastern and Southern Africa. It also provides a foundation for future high-capacity networks in the region.

In summary, while the precise height or depth of the EASSy cable is not publicly available, the system is a critical undersea infrastructure spanning thousands of kilometers along the East African coast, connecting multiple countries to global networks with high capacity and resilience.