As Africa experiences the world’s fastest growth in international bandwidth (44% CAGR, 2019–2023), Openserve, Telkom’s infrastructure arm, is pioneering a borderless digital ecosystem across Southern Africa.
Through strategic submarine cable investments, terrestrial fibre expansion, and regional partnerships, Openserve is transforming the SADC region into a globally competitive digital hub.
The Connectivity Imperative: Why Africa’s Internet Boom Matters
“We’re holding the internet in our pockets, yet millions remain unconnected,” said Motlalepula Ramaisa, Openserve’s representative at the 45th SATA Annual Conference.
Ramaisa outlined Openserve’s mission to close this gap, not just with access, but with quality connectivity that doesn’t buffer when you need it most.
Openserve’s Triple-Play Infrastructure Plan
1. Submarine Cable Dominance
Openserve owns stakes in 4 critical cables landing on SA’s coasts:
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East Coast: EASSy
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West Coast: WACS, SAT-3
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Game-Changer: Partnered with Google’s Equiano (2022), enabling 12TBps speeds.
“When EASSy was cut in May 2024, our Equiano investment saved South Africa from a Stage 1 ‘digital loadshedding’ scenario,” revealed Ramaisa.
“Diversity is critical to our operations – we never rely on just one submarine cable. We also ensure representation on both Africa’s west and east coasts,” said Ramaisa. “This strategy has enabled Openserve to maintain service continuity during cable outages.”
Ramaisa referenced a recent incident where maritime activity compromised vital infrastructure. On May 12, 2024, two critical fiber optic cables – SEACOM and EASSy – suffered damage off KwaZulu-Natal’s coast, severely impacting internet connectivity across multiple East African nations. At the time, investigations pointed to a dragging ship anchor as the likely cause, a frequent culprit in such submarine cable disruptions.
These submerged fibre optic networks constitute the fundamental framework of global digital connectivity.
Today’s infrastructure includes approximately 559 submarine cable systems traversing 1.5 million kilometers, linking everything from remote Pacific islands to Africa’s, Asia’s, and the Americas’ largest economic hubs.
The 2009 activation of East Africa’s first submarine fibre cables marked a watershed moment, offering regional nations their first viable alternative to satellite dependence. This advancement achieved remarkable results:
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400% reduction in network latency
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Over 50% decrease in connectivity costs
(Pre-2009 satellite connectivity cost ≈ $2,000/month for just 1Mbps capacity)
2. Terrestrial Fibre: From Cape to Congo
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97% SA municipal coverage
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Border-crossing routes to link landlocked neighbors (e.g., Botswana, Zimbabwe)
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61 data centres connected, and major ones connected via Openserve’s Carrier-Lite Systems (CLS)
3. Disaster-Proofing the Network
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Cape Town cable depot: Stores spare parts for 11 submarine systems.
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Diverse backhaul: Multiple terrestrial paths prevent single points of failure.
SADC’s Borderless Future: Telkom’s 2025 Vision
Telkom Group CEO Serame Taukobong unveiled a bold plan at SATA:
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One SADC Fibre Network: Interconnect all 14 member states.
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Tier 4 Data Hub: Make South Africa Africa’s cloud gateway.
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Flat Roaming Tariffs: Kill cross-border data premiums.
Ramaisa said: “We have sufficient capacity entering the region and the expertise developed over years to utilise it effectively, whether by converting it or deploying it to connect people. From a South African perspective, our fibre network already covers 97% of municipalities. Now, we’re ensuring this capacity extends to our borders, enabling seamless integration with neighboring SADC nations.
“When you combine Telkom Openserve’s infrastructure and expertise with that of SATA members, we’re very close to fulfilling Taukobong’s vision of a unified SADC fibre network.
“The infrastructure and skills already exist. Now, it’s about expanding collaboration to turn this vision into reality.”
