China Mobile hosted a landmark event in Nairobi, Kenya, to mark the activation of the 2Africa submarine cable eastern segments resources – spanning from South Africa- Kenya-Djibouti, as well as from Marseille to Egypt – and to unveil its AI+ Cloud-network Convergence Industry Solutions. Under the theme “Connect, Innovate, Ignite: Empowering Africa’s Digital Future Together,” the event showcased next-generation infrastructure and intelligent connectivity platforms designed to accelerate digital transformation for African carriers and enterprises. H.E. Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Kenya; Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy of Kenya; and Li Huidi, Executive Vice President of China Mobile attended and delivered addresses.
Ambassador Guo Haiyan highlighted that digital cooperation is becoming a key driver of collaboration between China and Africa. The successful activation of the 2Africa submarine cable eastern segment and the launch of China Mobile’s AI+ Cloud-network Convergence Industry Solutions vividly illustrate the results of China–Africa digital collaboration. China has always regarded Kenya as a vital partner in the journey toward digital transformation and will continue to share Chinese expertise and Chinese solutions to propel the continent’s digital economy forward. Looking ahead, she expressed confidence that China and Kenya will further deepen and broaden digital cooperation to jointly build an open, inclusive, and digital governance ecosystem that empowers shared growth and lasting prosperity.
Hon. William Kabogo Gitau emphasized that the 2Africa project is a landmark achievement of China-Africa collaboration. The official activation of the eastern segment will significantly boost international communications capacity across East Africa and expand digital pathways for cooperation between China and Africa. This cable does more than transmit data—it connects Africa to the future of the world.
Mr. Li Huidi, Executive Vice President of China Mobile, stated that digital technologies led by AI and 5G are becoming key drivers of economic transformation across Africa. As the East Africa's digital hub, Kenya has released the "Kenya Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025-2030" to anchor computing infrastructure and data governance through top-level design. Embracing cross-border digital cooperation with openness, Kenya's approach sets a benchmark for Africa's digital transformation. Over the past decade, China Mobile has successfully transformed strategically from a mobile operator to a full-service integrated service provider. We have expanded across four market sectors: Consumer, Home, Business, and New Markets, collectively referred to as CHBN. China Mobile has deepened its commitment to pioneering breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields represented by 'BASIC6' (Big Data, AI, Security, Integration Platform, Computing Power Network, and 6G).
Based on its robust network scale, technological accumulation, and experience in digital transformation, China Mobile develops deep and high-level cooperation with African partners. With the activation of the key segment of the 2Africa submarine cable and the launch of its AI+ Cloud-network Convergence Solutions, China Mobile will promote three major upgrades in cooperation across Africa: cloud and computing infrastructure in Africa, localized digital-intelligent solutions, and the integrated China–Africa digital ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Mr. Li stated that China Mobile is ready to work closely with Kenya and other African countries to move forward together. First, to build an “intelligent foundation” by integrating 2Africa cable resources and enhancing AI computing capabilities in collaboration with governments and carrier, while also developing a global interconnected digital channel with intercontinental submarine cable resources to enhance the autonomy and security of digital development. Second, to co-create "smart benchmarks" by working with Chinese and African partners to apply AI+ Cloud-network Convergence Solutions across key industries, empowering both businesses and households, and positioning Kenya as a flagship of China–Africa digital cooperation. Third, to cultivate an “innovation ecosystem” by leveraging collaboration platforms such as the iStar Program and GTI to align Chinese technologies with African needs, foster open and collaborative industrial partnerships, and accelerate the upgrading of regional value chains.
The 2Africa submarine cable, jointly invested in and built by China Mobile with global partners, spans approximately 45,000 kilometers with a design capacity of up to 180 Tbps—serving as an information superhighway. As the world’s largest submarine cable system, it encircles the African continent while connecting 33 countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The segments from South Africa-Kenya-Djibouti, as well as from Marseille to Egypt are now ready for service, injecting powerful momentum into local digital transformation and economic growth, while further strengthening and upgrading regional communications infrastructure.
At the event, China Mobile unveiled its AI+ Cloud-Network Convergence Industry Solutions. Built on an integrated foundation of “submarine cable + cloud-network + computing power”, these solutions incorporate AI, smart network scheduling, and data management to deliver highly reliable, customizable smart services for key sectors, including energy, manufacturing, finance, transportation, and retail.
The event featured exhibition zones showcasing cable resources, Points of Presence (PoPs), data centers, AI+ Cloud-Network Convergence capabilities, AI+ industry solutions, and carrier partnerships. Representatives from multiple carriers and enterprises engaged in in-depth discussions with China Mobile’s technical teams, exploring joint opportunities in data centers, localized AI models, and cross-border computing power interconnections.
From deep-sea optical cables to intelligent computility, and from data interconnectivity to industry co-creation, China Mobile is continuously reinforcing global digital infrastructure and setting new benchmarks for AI+ industrial applications in China-Africa collaboration. Moving forward, China Mobile will strengthen its partnerships with African partners through jointly built networks, co-operated data centers, localized AI large language models, and tailored intelligent solutions. These efforts aim to advance cooperation in telecommunications, cloud computing, and industry digitization to build open, intelligent, and inclusive digital ecosystems across the continent.
Source: CMI Press Release
