Paratus Botswana Advances SADC Highway Project to Connect Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia
Paratus Botswana has begun work on the ambitious SADC Highway, a fiber network connecting Gaborone in Botswana to Livingstone in Zambia through Zimbabwe. This project aims to improve regional connectivity and foster economic growth.
The first section of the route, stretching 500km from Gaborone to Plumtree, is set to be completed by February 2025. The SADC Highway, part of Paratus Group’s Southern Continental Agenda, complements the Botswana Kalahari Fiber (BKF) route launched earlier this year, offering up to 11 terabits of additional capacity for Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The new route provides critical redundancy for existing networks and an alternative to traditional routes via Beitbridge. It connects the region directly to the Equiano subsea cable in Namibia and the Teraco Data Center in Johannesburg, enabling lower latency and higher capacity.
“This route cements Botswana’s role as a communications hub,” said Paratus Botswana’s Country MD. “It also reflects our commitment to addressing regional connectivity needs and contributing to Botswana’s economic diversification.”
Paratus Botswana’s fourth fiber route underscores its strategic investment in network infrastructure to meet Southern Africa’s growing telecommunications demands. Upon completion, the SADC Highway will enhance connectivity, lower costs, and stimulate economic opportunities across the continent.