The Tanzania-Mozambique cross-border fiber optic link is a critical regional infrastructure project under PIDA, implemented by Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) on behalf of the Government of Tanzania. The project was contracted to M/s Raddy Fiber Solution on January 13, 2021, at a cost of TSh 2.4 billion (approximately USD 1 million), funded entirely by the Government of Tanzania. Site handover occurred on February 17-24, 2021, with construction commencing along the Masasi-Mangaka-Mtambaswala route in Mtwara and Ruvuma regions. The 72-kilometre fiber optic link from Mangaka to Mtambaswala was actively under construction as of August 2021. By September 2023, Tanzania's then-Minister for ICT, Nape Nnauye, confirmed that Tanzania had already delivered services to the Mtambaswala border and was awaiting Mozambique's connection on their side. By September 2024, Tanzania's Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, commended TTCL's efforts in connecting Mozambique to the NICTBB cable, alongside Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Zambia, at the Connect 2 Connect Conference in Arusha. In July 2025, at the launch of the Kenya-Tanzania cross-border fiber link at Lunga Lunga/Horohoro, Minister Silaa confirmed that Tanzania is now digitally interconnected with six neighboring countries, including Mozambique, indicating the operationalization of the Tanzania-Mozambique link. The project uses the existing NICTBB national backbone (7,910 km within Tanzania) to create a seamless regional digital corridor, allowing both countries to access EASSy and SEACOM submarine cables and contributing to the broader SADC digital integration agenda.
The project involves the extension of the Tanzania National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) southwards to connect with Mozambique's national backbone via the Mtambaswala border crossing. The primary component is the construction of a 72-kilometre cross-border terrestrial fiber optic link along the Mangaka-Mtambaswala route in the Mtwara and Ruvuma regions of Tanzania, with transmission systems installed at Mtambaswala and Masasi stations. The project also includes construction of the fiber optic layout, power and transmission equipment, mechanical building, guard booth, and associated civil works. The technical specification includes the deployment of Single Mode Optical Fiber type G652D with OTN over DWDM transmission technology, operating at a capacity of up to 1.6 terabits per second. The project was contracted to M/s Raddy Fiber Solution in January 2021 at a cost of TSh 2.4 billion (approximately USD 1 million), funded by the Government of Tanzania. Construction commenced in March 2021 and the Tanzania-side infrastructure was delivered to the Mtambaswala border by 2023, with the link confirmed operational and Mozambique listed among Tanzania's six digitally interconnected neighbours by September 2024. The project aims to create a resilient, high-capacity digital corridor, enabling both countries to access multiple submarine cable systems (EASSy and SEACOM) landed in Tanzania and Mozambique, thereby providing redundancy and reducing international bandwidth costs. The project is a key component of the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), code.
Government of Tanzania constructed a National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) connecting all Regions in Tanzania and cross boarder connectivity to Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The NICTBB has a total length of 7,910Km. The aim of NICTBB is to connect all neighboring countries. Now the government is planning to connect Mozambique so that to enable access of submarine cables landed in both countries. This connect will increase the reliability of the sea cables in the SADC and EAC regions.
1. Establish a direct, high-capacity terrestrial fiber link between Tanzania and Mozambique via the Mtambaswala border crossing, using Single Mode Optical Fiber G652D with OTN over DWDM transmission technology at up to 1.6 Tbps capacity, covering 72 km from Mangaka to Mtambaswala. 2. Provide Tanzania with alternative access to the EASSy and SEACOM submarine cables via Mozambique, and provide Mozambique with access to submarine cables landed at Dar es Salaam, enhancing international connectivity resilience for both countries. 3. Reduce the cost of international bandwidth for operators and end-users in both countries by creating competitive, diverse routing options. 4. Enhance regional digital integration within the SADC and EAC regions by increasing the reliability of sea cable connectivity. 5. Support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enabling cross-border digital services and trade. 6. Improve service reliability and quality through diverse cable access points, ensuring continuity of digital services even when marine landing stations face disruptions. 7. Position Tanzania as a key ICT infrastructure hub in the region, extending its backbone connectivity to all neighboring countries. 8. Install transmission systems at Mtambaswala and Masasi stations to facilitate communication services across the border into Mozambique.
The main objective is to provide connectivity to Mozambique so that they can have access to sea cables of EASSy and SEACOM landed at Dar es salaam and also Tanzania will have access to sea cables landed in Mozambique and therefore will create resilience of international connectivity in SADC and EAC regions.