In a significant boost to digital infrastructure, Phase3 and Sonatel have launched a new 3,500-kilometer terrestrial fiber route connecting Lagos, Nigeria, to Dakar, Senegal. This project builds upon Phase3's existing Lagos-Accra corridor and marks a pivotal step in the company's broader East-West expansion strategy. The new route offers scalable, low-latency connectivity with a latency of just 32 milliseconds, making it a robust alternative to the often-disrupted subsea cable systems that serve the region. Stanley Jegede, Executive Chairman of Phase3, emphasized the importance of this project, stating, "This isn't just a route; it's a digital spine for West Africa. We are building for scale, redundancy, and the future, ensuring secure and high-capacity terrestrial connectivity." The route bridges networks through Benin, Togo, and Ghana, enhancing resilience and reliability for various sectors including hyperscalers, content delivery networks (CDNs), financial institutions, and cloud providers. Craig Lowe, Chief Growth Officer at Phase3, highlighted the practical implications of the new fiber route: "We've designed this network to support data sovereignty, application performance, and cloud transformation. Most critically, it ensures that the internet remains functional even during subsea cable outages." Recent disruptions in 2024 have underscored the vulnerability of the region's connectivity, making this terrestrial link an essential safeguard. Sonatel, a member of the Orange Group and a prominent telco in West Africa, played a crucial role in extending the fiber corridor westward. The company's strong leadership and vision for innovation align with Phase3's goals, driving shared prosperity and opening new opportunities in the region. Sékou Dramé, CEO of Sonatel, noted, "Our partnership with Phase3 represents a shared commitment to improving connectivity and fostering technological advancement. This new terrestrial fiber route will significantly enhance economic growth and digital inclusion." The route is specifically engineered to meet the needs of financial services, enterprise cloud workloads, public sector digitization, and media streaming. It ensures cross-border interoperability and provides local access to vital cloud services such as AWS Wavelength, which is hosted by Sonatel in Dakar. El Hadji Maty Sene, Managing Director of Sonatel Wholesale and International, added, "Dakar is becoming a strategic connectivity hub. This new route diversifies infrastructure, lowers latency, and offers reliable access to global content, driving tangible economic benefits." The launch of the Phase3-Sonatel route is a testament to the power of collaboration in addressing regional connectivity challenges. It strengthens West Africa's digital core and enhances its secure connection to the global internet ecosystem. Commercial availability and detailed service packages are anticipated to be announced shortly, marking the beginning of a new era in regional digital infrastructure. Industry experts have lauded the initiative, noting its potential to transform the region's digital landscape. They emphasize that the new route will not only improve reliability and speed but also pave the way for advanced technologies and applications. The successful collaboration between Phase3 and Sonatel sets a precedent for future projects and demonstrates the commitment of both companies to driving digital inclusion and economic growth in West Africa. Phase3 Telecom, headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, has been a leader in the region's digital infrastructure for over two decades. It offers high-performance fiber, media, and fintech solutions, with a network spanning six countries in the ECOWAS region. Sonatel, based in Dakar, Senegal, is part of the Orange Group and provides comprehensive telecommunications services, reinforcing its position as a key player on the Abidjan Regional Securities Exchange (BRVM) after 25 years of operation. Both companies bring a wealth of expertise and resources to this groundbreaking project, promising a future with enhanced connectivity and digital capabilities for West Africa.