Horizon Fiber Initiative
Djibouti Telecom, Ethio telecom, and Sudatel Telecom Group have today signed a tripartite strategic agreement under the Horizon Fiber Initiative, marking a major milestone in regional digital connectivity through the deployment of cross-border multi-terabit optical fiber infrastructure.
The agreement enables the establishment of 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.
This strategic collaboration is designed to enhance international bandwidth capacity, improve network resilience and redundancy, and support the rapidly growing demand for data, cloud, digital services, and cross-border connectivity across the region.
Through this initiative, the three operators will leverage their complementary infrastructure assets and operational expertise to deliver:
- Multi-terabit optical fiber capacity
- Carrier-grade, low-latency international connectivity
- Diversified and secure cross-border routes
- Improved service reliability for operators, enterprises, and hyperscalers
Leadership Statement
Speaking on the occasion, the CEOs of the partnering organizations emphasized that the Horizon Fiber Initiative reflects a shared commitment to regional cooperation, digital transformation, and the creation of a robust communications backbone that supports economic growth and digital inclusion.
The Horizon initiative is the result of two years of deliberate, coordinated work toward a shared vision. The contract follows in-depth discussions and culminates a process that began earlier in 2024, including the MOU signature held in Addis Ababa on 4 December 2024, driven by the technical teams of the three operators. Together, they have remained committed to building this new infrastructure to deliver faster and more reliable connectivity and support Africa’s digital transformation.
This milestone represents a pioneering Africa-to-Africa collaboration, connecting the Red Sea through three countries and providing a resilient route. It sets a practical blueprint for how carriers can build scalable, high-availability paths that unlock new value for Africa’s digital economy and international customers alike—showing how regional cooperation can solve real-world connectivity challenges while laying the foundation for an integrated, future-ready digital infrastructure.
Our Commitment
Together, these leaders are transforming Sudatel's ambition into actionable impact — from expanding connectivity infrastructure, launching innovative service solutions, to growing partnerships and strengthening digital ecosystems. Their combined expertise supports our mission: to connect communities, empower businesses and pioneer telecommunications innovation in Africa and the Middle East.