Morganable Technology | Connectivity
A major submarine cable linking Africa and Europe is getting an upgrade that will increase its ability to carry internet traffic across the two regions.
Lagos —
A major submarine cable linking Africa and Europe is set for a technology upgrade that will increase the amount of data it can carry.
The Africa Coast to Europe, known as ACE, cable system is being upgraded to deliver more than 30 terabits per second (Tbps).
The upgrade will strengthen the connection between Western Europe, West Africa and South Africa.
It was announced on September 21, 2026, as demand for internet services continues to grow across Africa.
The ACE cable stretches about 17,000 kilometres and has 18 landing stations. It connects more than 500 million people across 20 countries, either directly or through land links.
The project is being carried out by Ciena, a technology company that provides networking systems for telecommunications providers.
Why the Upgrade Matters
For many people, internet connectivity simply means having access to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
However, a much larger system works behind the scenes to keep people connected.
Submarine cables are part of that system.
These cables are laid under the sea and carry huge amounts of information between countries and continents.
Whenever people send messages, watch videos, use cloud services or make online transactions across borders, their data may pass through these international networks.
Therefore, when a major cable gets an upgrade, it can help the network handle more traffic.
That is what ACE is preparing to do.
The new technology will allow the existing cable system to carry more data without requiring the entire undersea cable to be replaced.
One Cable, Many Countries
ACE plays an important role in connecting countries along the western coast of Africa with Europe.
The system also reaches South Africa.
According to the ACE consortium, the network connects 20 countries either directly or through land links.
This means that countries without direct access to the sea can also benefit from the system.
For example, landlocked countries can connect through networks that link them to ACE landing stations.
As a result, the cable’s reach goes beyond the locations where it physically comes ashore.
The system was launched in December 2012 and has since become part of the infrastructure supporting internet access and international communications in the region.
More People Going Online
Africa’s internet use has changed significantly over the years.
More people now use smartphones to communicate, work, learn, shop and access financial services.
Businesses are also moving more of their activities online.
Banks depend on digital platforms. Companies use cloud services. Government agencies are introducing online services.
At the same time, entertainment platforms are attracting millions of users.
All these activities require data to move from one place to another.
As more people and organisations use digital services, internet networks have to handle increasing amounts of traffic.
The ACE upgrade is designed to provide more room for that growth.
The consortium said the modernisation responds to rising connectivity demand from more than 500 million people served by the system.
What 30 Tbps Means
The phrase 30 Tbps may sound complicated.
In simple terms, it describes how much data the network can move in a second.
One terabit is 1,000 gigabits.
Therefore, more than 30 Tbps represents a huge amount of information moving through the network.
However, this does not mean an individual phone or laptop will suddenly have internet speeds of 30 Tbps.
The figure applies to the wider cable system.
Internet service providers and other network operators use international cable capacity to deliver services to businesses and individuals.
So, the benefit happens at the network level.
More capacity gives operators more room to handle growing demand.
No New Undersea Cable Needed
One important part of the project is that ACE does not need to replace the entire submarine cable.
Instead, Ciena will install its WaveLogic 6 Extreme technology over equipment already used by the ACE system.
This will allow the network to carry more data through its existing infrastructure.
That approach can also reduce disruption to customers who already depend on the cable.
According to Ciena, the upgrade is designed to limit disruption to live traffic while increasing the system’s bandwidth.
In other words, the technology will improve what the existing cable can do.
This can be useful because laying a new submarine cable is a major project that requires significant planning, investment and construction.
Upgrading existing infrastructure can provide another way to respond to growing demand.
Helping Businesses Stay Connected
The upgrade could also support businesses that depend on international internet connections.
A Nigerian company working with customers in Europe, for example, relies on international networks to exchange information.
The same applies to financial institutions, technology companies and organisations using cloud-based services.
Better international connectivity can support these activities by giving network operators more capacity to manage traffic.
It can also support the continued growth of digital businesses across Africa.
For technology startups, reliable connectivity is particularly important.
Many startups depend on cloud platforms, online payment systems, video communication and other services that require stable internet access.
As Africa’s digital economy expands, the infrastructure supporting those services will need to keep developing too.
Preparing for the Future
The ACE upgrade is also about preparing for future demand.
Internet traffic is not only coming from social media and video streaming.
New technologies are creating additional pressure on networks.
Artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other data-heavy services require large amounts of information to move quickly.
More businesses are also using digital tools for everyday operations.
Therefore, network operators need to plan ahead rather than wait until existing systems become overwhelmed.
The ACE modernisation gives the system additional room to grow.
Ciena said the project will also give operators better visibility and management tools, helping them plan future expansion and manage their services more efficiently.
Africa’s Digital Future
The development comes as countries across Africa continue to invest in digital infrastructure.
Internet access has become more than a communication tool.
It now supports education, banking, healthcare, business, entertainment and government services.
For many young businesses, having reliable internet access can also determine how easily they can reach customers and use digital platforms.
That makes international connectivity an important part of the continent’s digital development.
Still, submarine cables are only one part of the system.
After data reaches the coast, it must travel through other networks before reaching a person’s phone or computer.
That includes fibre networks, mobile networks and data centres.
Therefore, upgrading ACE alone will not solve every connectivity challenge.
However, it adds more capacity to an important international route.
What Comes Next
The ACE upgrade represents another step in strengthening the digital connection between Africa and the rest of the world.
With the system expected to deliver more than 30 Tbps, network operators will have additional room to handle growing internet traffic.
The upgrade will also make use of the existing cable instead of requiring an entirely new underwater route.
For everyday internet users, the development may not produce an obvious change overnight.
They may not see the cable or the equipment behind it.
Yet, the systems working beneath the sea play an important role in keeping the modern internet running.
As more Africans work, study, shop, communicate and build businesses online, that hidden infrastructure will become even more important.
For ACE, the next phase is therefore not just about moving more data.
It is about preparing an important link between Africa and Europe for the growing demands of the digital economy.
