On February 4, 2026, Ethio Telecom, Djibouti Telecom, and Sudatel Group signed a tripartite Horizon Fiber agreement in Djibouti. The project will establish a secure terrestrial connectivity corridor linking Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Ethio Telecom's strategy, it advances regional digital integration.
The Horizon Fiber agreement, signed in Djibouti, marks a major step toward enhancing digital connectivity in the Horn of Africa. This terrestrial corridor shifts focus from undersea cables, addressing vulnerabilities in previous setups. It achieves three main goals: reducing risks at the Red Sea chokepoint, repositioning Ethiopia as a transit hub linking Djibouti and Sudan, and enabling flexible routing for better resilience.
Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru described the project as “a shared digital future,” noting that collaborative efforts by African operators can “solve real connectivity challenges and unlock new value” for customers and hyperscalers. Djibouti Telecom CEO Mohamed Assoweh Bouh highlighted “shared prosperity” and digital sovereignty. Sudatel CEO Magdi M. Abdalla Taha called it “a living model of innovative partnership” and “a replicable benchmark” for the continent.
The initiative aligns closely with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), potentially lowering regional internet costs and supporting cross-border platforms like cloud services and fintech. For Ethio Telecom, it forms a key part of the “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy, transforming the company into a regional transit and platform operator. This development promises economic and geopolitical benefits by strengthening African control over digital infrastructure.