Kenya has launched a new submarine cable system designed to strengthen internet connectivity along its Indian Ocean coastline and support the expansion of data centres, cloud services and technology-driven businesses.
The LuLu Coastal Cable System was unveiled at ITW Africa 2026 and will connect five landing points along Kenya’s approximately 500-kilometre coastline between Mombasa and Lamu.
The project combines an undersea fibre-optic cable with a parallel protected terrestrial route, creating two pathways through which network traffic can be transmitted.
Developers said the dual-path design would improve network resilience by allowing traffic to be rerouted if one connection is disrupted.
The system is being developed by INDOI Ltd, Blue Trade Investments Limited, ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, AfriTrade Consulting Group and Kingdom Bank Limited.
The planned landing points include Mombasa, Vipingo Special Economic Zone, Kilifi and Malindi, with the network extending towards Lamu.
The project is expected to serve governments, telecommunications operators, data-centre companies and businesses that require reliable, high-capacity connectivity.
LuLu will use dense wavelength division multiplexing technology and is planned to have 144 fibre pairs, with a design capacity of up to 60 terabits per second per fibre pair.
The cable is designed to operate for 25 years and will feature centralised network management, according to its developers.
The system is expected to be ready for service in the second quarter of 2028, subject to the completion of contractual arrangements.
“This is a permanent digital backbone for the coastal corridor,” said Arunachalam Kandasamy, founder and chief executive of INDOI.
He said the project would address a longstanding infrastructure gap along the Kenyan coast, where increasing industrial and commercial activity has created greater demand for reliable digital connectivity.
The new cable is also expected to strengthen the investment potential of the Vipingo Special Economic Zone by providing direct submarine cable connectivity to businesses operating within the zone.
According to the developers, the infrastructure could support data centres, cloud computing facilities and business-process outsourcing operations, as well as fintech companies, payment processors, cybersecurity firms and businesses using Internet of Things technology.
The Vipingo SEZ is being developed as an industrial and digital hub with the potential to attract up to $3 billion in investment.
George Olaka, country head of ARISE IIP Kenya, said the cable would support the zone’s plans to combine manufacturing, logistics, value addition and digital infrastructure.
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“LuLu would improve the zone’s ability to attract technology-driven companies alongside manufacturers,” he said.
Blue Trade Investments, INDOI’s Kenya-registered infrastructure partner, will serve as the cable landing party and regulatory interface and will oversee operational delivery in Kenya.
The company is expected to work with regulators, government agencies and coastal communities during implementation and future operations.
Kingdom Bank Chief Executive Officer Anthony Mburu said the project reflected the growing importance of digital infrastructure to investment and economic activity.
Caroline Saroni, chief executive and executive director of AfriTrade Consulting Group, said the company had advised on transaction structuring, regulatory approvals, compliance and the onboarding of project partners.
Kenya is already a major connectivity hub in East Africa, with several international submarine cables landing along its coast and linking the country to global internet networks.
The LuLu system is designed to complement those networks by establishing a dedicated coastal connection between industrial and commercial centres.
Its developers said the combination of submarine and terrestrial routes would provide additional capacity and improve network continuity as demand for digital services increases.
However, the project remains subject to contractual and regulatory processes before construction and commercial operations can begin.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
