Over 95% of the world’s internet traffic flows through undersea cables. South Africa, a key player in Africa’s digital economy, relies on these unseen lifelines to link its businesses, cities, and people to the globe. Undersea cables in South Africa aren’t just wires on the ocean floor—they’re the backbone of trade, innovation, and communication. Today, ten cables connect the nation to Europe, Asia, and beyond. Two more, led by tech giants Meta and Google, are on the way. This isn’t a small upgrade. It’s a transformation that could redefine how South African companies compete internationally.
The stakes are high. Disruptions—like the March 2024 cable breaks off West Africa—can throttle internet speeds, halt transactions, and frustrate customers. Yet, the promise of new projects like Meta’s Project Waterworth and Google’s Umoja offers hope. These initiatives aim to boost capacity and resilience. For businesses, this means faster data transfers, reliable cloud services, and a shot at staying ahead in a digital-first world. Here’s what professionals need to know about this critical infrastructure—and how to leverage it.
A Brief History of Undersea Cables in South Africa
South Africa’s journey with undersea cables began decades ago. The SAT-3/WASC cable, launched in 2002, was a pioneer. Spanning 14,350 kilometers, it tied South Africa to Europe via Melkbosstrand in the Western Cape. Before that, international communication leaned on sluggish satellite links. SAT-3 changed the game—suddenly, emails zipped across continents, and businesses could dream bigger.
Fast forward to 2009. The SEACOM cable landed at Mtunzini, KwaZulu-Natal, stretching 15,000 kilometers to Europe and Asia. It wasn’t alone. The Eastern Africa Submarine System (EASSy) followed in 2010, connecting South Africa to East Africa and beyond. Each cable added bandwidth, cut latency, and opened doors. By 2025, ten cables form a web around the nation’s coast. Companies like Telkom SA, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, and Bayobab (MTN) have driven this growth, partnering with global players like Orange and Vodafone.
Why does this matter? These cables laid the groundwork for South Africa’s digital economy. Without them, e-commerce giants like Takealot or cloud providers like Microsoft Azure wouldn’t thrive here. The past shapes the present—and the present is about to get a major boost.
The Current Landscape: Ten Cables Keeping South Africa Online
Ten undersea cables keep South Africa connected today. Each has a unique role, length, and landing point. Here’s the rundown:
- 2Africa: At 45,000 kilometers, it’s a beast. Landing at Amanzimtoti, Gqeberha, Melkbosstrand, and Yzerfontein, it links South Africa to Europe and Asia. Investors include Meta, MTN, and Orange.
- Africa Coast to Europe (ACE): This 17,000-kilometer line hits Duynefontein in the Western Cape. It’s a collaborative effort with players like Orange and Dolphin Telecom.
- West Africa Cable System (WACS): Spanning 14,530 kilometers, it lands at Yzerfontein. Vodacom, Telkom, and Broadband Infraco are among its backers.
- SAT-3/WASC: The veteran at 14,350 kilometers, connecting via Melkbosstrand. AT&T and Deutsche Telekom are key investors.
- SAFE: A 13,500-kilometer link to Melkbosstrand and Mtunzini. Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Telkom lead here.
- EASSy: At 10,500 kilometers, it touches Mtunzini. MTN, Telkom, and WIOCC keep it running.
- T3: A shorter 3,200-kilometer cable to Amanzimtoti, backed by Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
- Equiano: Google’s 15,000-kilometer project, landing at Melkbosstrand. It’s been a game-changer since 2024.
- SEACOM/Tata EGN-Eurasia: Another 15,000-kilometer link to Mtunzini, driven by SEACOM and Tata Communications.
- METISS: At 3,200 kilometers, it connects Umbogintwini. Canal+ Telecom and Emtel are behind it.
These cables handle everything from Zoom calls to billion-rand transactions. They’re not static, though. Damage from anchors, landslides, or sabotage—like the 2024 West Africa outages—can disrupt them. Businesses felt that pain: Vodacom reported two-hour outages, and Microsoft Azure went offline for hours. Redundancy helps, but it’s not foolproof.
Undersea Cables in South Africa: New Players on the Horizon
Two massive projects are set to expand this network. First up: Google’s Umoja cable. Announced in May 2024, it’ll run from Kenya through six African nations before crossing the ocean to Australia. South Africa’s landing point isn’t confirmed yet, but it’s coming. Google’s goal? Strengthen Africa’s digital spine after last year’s disruptions. The Equiano cable already proved Google’s chops—this is the next step.
Then there’s Meta’s Project Waterworth. Unveiled in February 2025, it’s ambitious: 50,000 kilometers, longer than Earth’s circumference. It’ll connect the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and more. Meta calls it the world’s longest and highest-capacity cable, using 24 fibre-pairs. South Africa’s landing spot is still under wraps, but the impact is clear. Faster AI-driven services, better resilience, and new oceanic routes are on the table. Meta’s betting billions on this, and completion is years out—but the payoff could be huge.
These projects don’t just add cables. They signal intent. Tech giants see South Africa as a hub worth investing in. For businesses, that’s a cue to prepare.
How Undersea Cables Work: The Tech Behind the Scenes
Undersea cables aren’t magic. They’re feats of engineering. Each cable is a bundle of optical fibres—thin glass strands that carry data as light pulses. A single fibre can handle terabits of data per second. That’s enough to stream millions of Netflix shows at once. These fibres are wrapped in protective layers: polyethylene, steel, and copper to shield against water, pressure, and fish bites. Yes, sharks have been known to nibble.
Laying a cable takes months. Specialized ships—like the Léon Thévenin, which repaired cables off West Africa in 2024—drop them along precise routes. Depth varies: some sit 8,000 meters down. Repeaters, spaced every 100 kilometers, boost the signal. On land, they connect to stations—like Melkbosstrand’s—where data hops to local networks.
Maintenance is relentless. A trawler’s anchor can snap a cable. Landslides, like the one suspected in March 2024, can sever multiple lines. Repairs mean deploying ships, divers, and robots. It’s costly and slow—weeks, not days. South Africa’s cables face these risks, but new designs, like Waterworth’s deep-water routing, aim to dodge them.
Economic Impact: Why Businesses Should Care
South Africa’s economy leans on these cables. E-commerce, cloud computing, and fintech thrive on fast, reliable internet. Takealot processes thousands of orders daily—laggy connections could tank sales. Banks like Standard Bank move billions via SWIFT, which needs real-time links to London or New York. Even small startups pitching to global VCs need video calls that don’t drop.
Numbers tell the story. In 2023, South Africa’s digital economy contributed 19% to GDP, per the World Bank. That’s R500 billion-plus. Undersea cables fuel this growth. When Equiano landed in 2024, internet speeds in Cape Town jumped 30%, per NetBlocks. Businesses saw lower latency—critical for cloud apps like Teams or SAP.
Disruptions hurt. The March 2024 outages cost firms millions. Vodacom rerouted traffic to Equiano, but not everyone had backup plans. For SMEs, a day offline can mean lost clients. New cables like Umoja and Waterworth promise more capacity—think 100 terabits per second versus WACS’s 5. That’s room for AI, 5G, and IoT to explode locally.
Action step: Assess your reliance on internet speed. If your CRM lags or your site loads slowly, customers notice. Audit your provider’s redundancy—ask if they tap multiple cables. It’s not sexy, but it’s survival.
Risks and Resilience: Navigating the Threats
Undersea cables face real dangers. Anchors from ships—like the Eagle S incident in the Baltic in 2024—can slice through them. Natural events, like earthquakes or landslides, strike too. Sabotage isn’t fiction either. NATO’s “Baltic Sentry” mission, launched in January 2025, tracks Russian “shadow fleets” suspected of targeting cables. South Africa’s coast isn’t immune—geopolitical tensions could spill over.
The 2024 West Africa cable breaks showed vulnerability. Four cables—WACS, ACE, SAT-3, and MainOne—went down. Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa scrambled. Repair ship Léon Thévenin took weeks to fix them. In South Africa, Microsoft’s Azure region faltered, and payment provider Yoco stalled. Backup cables like Equiano saved the day, but capacity stretched thin.
Businesses can’t control the ocean. They can prepare. Diversify providers—don’t rely on one cable-heavy ISP. Vodacom and Liquid Intelligent Technologies tap multiple lines; others might not. Test failover plans. If your cloud provider’s local region dies, can you switch to Europe or the U.S.? Run drills. It’s not paranoia—it’s pragmatism.
The Future: Where South Africa’s Cables Are Headed
By 2030, South Africa’s cable count could hit 15. Waterworth and Umoja are just the start. Demand is surging—5G rollout, AI adoption, and remote work need bandwidth. Africa’s internet users will double to 1 billion by decade’s end, per ITU forecasts. South Africa, as a gateway, will carry much of that load.
Meta ’s Waterworth could launch by 2028, if timelines hold. Its 24 fibre-pair tech means capacity leaps—think petabits, not terabits. Google’s Umoja might beat it, finishing by 2027. Both prioritize resilience: deeper routes, tougher casings. Sabotage and accidents won’t vanish, but they’ll sting less.
Locally, expect pressure on landing points. Melkbosstrand’s busy—new stations could pop up. Competition will heat up too. SEACOM and Liquid might counter with upgrades. For businesses, this means choice. More cables, more providers, better rates. Negotiate hard when contracts renew.
The big win? AI and cloud. South Africa could host regional data centers for AWS or Google, slashing latency for Africa. That’s jobs, investment, and growth. Companies should position now—partner with tech firms or upskill staff for what’s coming.
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Conclusion: Undersea Cables in South Africa as a Business Edge
Undersea cables in South Africa are more than infrastructure—they’re a lifeline. Ten cables keep the nation online today, powering everything from payroll to global pitches. Meta’s Project Waterworth and Google’s Umoja will push that further, linking South Africa to new markets with unmatched speed. Disruptions happen. Resilience matters. But the trajectory is clear: more capacity, more opportunity.
Businesses can’t sit back. Audit your connectivity. Diversify your risks. Plan for the bandwidth boom. South Africa’s digital future is arriving fast—those who harness its undersea cables will lead the pack. The ocean floor holds the key. Use it.
Summary: Undersea Cables in South Africa
| Cable Name | Length (km) | Key Investors | South African Landing Point(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2Africa | 45,000 | Meta, MTN, Orange | Amanzimtoti, Gqeberha, Melkbosstrand, Yzerfontein |
| ACE | 17,000 | Orange, Dolphin Telecom | Duynefontein |
| WACS | 14,530 | Vodacom, Telkom, Broadband Infraco | Yzerfontein |
| SAT-3/WASC | 14,350 | AT&T, Deutsche Telekom | Melkbosstrand |
| SAFE | 13,500 | Liquid Intelligent Tech, Telkom | Melkbosstrand, Mtunzini |
| EASSy | 10,500 | MTN, Telkom, WIOCC | Mtunzini |
| T3 | 3,200 | Liquid Intelligent Tech | Amanzimtoti |
| Equiano | 15,000 | Melkbosstrand | |
| SEACOM/Tata | 15,000 | SEACOM, Tata Communications | Mtunzini |
| METISS | 3,200 | Canal+ Telecom, Emtel | Umbogintwini |
| Umoja | TBC | TBC | |
| Project Waterworth | 50,000+ | Meta | TBC |
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