Equatorial Guinea plans subsea cable to boost internet reliability 

Equatorial Guinea is exploring a connection to the Medusa subsea cable to strengthen internet reliability and network performance. The project, estimated to cost between €20 million ($23 million) and €60 million ($69 million), could become operational between 2029 and 2030. 

The proposal is part of a strategic plan outlined in a study by consulting firm Mason, aimed at modernizing the country’s digital infrastructure. The report was presented on April 3 in the presence of Vice President Nguema Obiang Mangue, according to a statement from the vice presidency and the ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). 

The project has not yet been approved. The vice president said a technical committee would review the plan in coordination with Medusa project officials.

Medusa cable targets Bata landing

The Mason study details the Medusa subsea cable as a large-scale fiber-optic system spanning 8,700 kilometers, linking the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Red Seas. Bata is being considered as a landing point because of its population size and proximity to the capital, Malabo. 

The system is designed to deliver 480 terabits per second across 24 fiber pairs, or about 20 Tb/s per pair. Initially intended to connect Mediterranean countries, the project has expanded to Africa, potentially improving digital access for millions across 22 nations.

Equatorial Guinea seeks broader cable links

The report also stresses the need for Equatorial Guinea to diversify its international connectivity. In February, the government signed a cooperation agreement with Nigeria to deploy a separate subsea fiber-optic network.

Details remain limited, but Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said the cable would strengthen digital communications and help integrate African markets. 

Nigeria already connects to seven major subsea cables, including WACS, SAT-3/WASC, MainOne, Glo-1, Equiano, 2Africa, and ACE, as well as a link to Cameroon between Kribi and Lagos. Equatorial Guinea, by comparison, primarily relies on the ACE cable and regional links including Ceiba-1, Ceiba-2, and Ultramar GE.

Medusa boosts capacity, cuts internet costs

Beyond improving performance, the Medusa project is expected to ease network congestion and increase resilience across critical infrastructure.

“The Medusa Africa Submarine Cable System will be transformational for digital connectivity along Africa’s Atlantic coast, creating new opportunities for innovation, commerce, and social inclusion,” said Norman Albi, CEO of AFR-IX and the Medusa Africa project, in a statement last September. 

Subsea cable landings are also linked to lower internet costs. A World Bank study in July 2024 found that doubling subsea cable capacity in Africa reduces fixed broadband prices by an average of 7% and mobile broadband prices by 13%. 

In Equatorial Guinea, improved capacity could support broader adoption of digital services. DataReportal reported that the country had 1.18 million internet subscriptions at the end of 2025, a penetration rate of 60.4%.