Lake Albert 2: A regional submarine cable crossing Lake Albert
Lake Albert 2 is a short submarine cable system spanning 44 kilometers across Lake Albert, connecting
Kasenyi in the Democratic Republic of Congo to
Mpeefu in Uganda. Owned by Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS), the cable is listed as in service and was recorded in the GeoCables database as ready for service (RFS) in 2020. While its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology details are not publicly disclosed, the cable plays a role in regional connectivity between the two countries.
What stands out about Lake Albert 2 is its geographical specificity: it serves as a wet segment link across Lake Albert, a natural border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its role as part of the Lake Albert cable family, alongside
Lake Albert 1, suggests a strategic effort to improve cross-border communication and data transport in this region. However, many technical aspects remain opaque, limiting deeper analysis of its capabilities.
Quick facts
| System Name | Lake Albert 2 |
| Length | 44 km |
| Ready for Service (RFS) | 2020 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS) |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Kasenyi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Mpeefu (Uganda) |
| Related Systems | Lake Albert 1 |
Route
Lake Albert 2 connects Kasenyi, located on the eastern shore of Lake Albert in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Mpeefu, situated on the lake's western shore in Uganda. Lake Albert itself is a prominent geographical feature in the East African Rift system, forming part of the border between the two countries. The cable's route is entirely submerged within the lake, making it a purely wet segment system.
Why it was built and what it carries
The Lake Albert 2 cable was likely built to enhance regional connectivity between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By providing a direct link across Lake Albert, it bypasses the need for terrestrial infrastructure that might be hindered by challenging terrain or political complexities. While specific data traffic types carried by the cable are not disclosed, it is reasonable to assume that it supports internet, voice, and data services for local and cross-border communication.
The presence of Lake Albert 1 in the same cable family suggests that Lake Albert 2 may be part of a broader strategy by Bandwidth and Cloud Services to establish reliable infrastructure in the region. However, without detailed public disclosures, the specific motivations and technical specifications remain speculative.
History: what can be established
According to GeoCables records, Lake Albert 2 was ready for service in 2020. No conflicting dates from industry sources are currently known, so this year is accepted as accurate. The cable's development and deployment timeline are not documented in public sources, leaving the planning, surveying, and installation phases unclear.
As with most submarine cables, the laying process would have involved specialized cable-laying vessels, with potential burial or anchoring to secure the cable on the lakebed. Repairs, if necessary, would likely require similar vessels and expertise, though specific details about maintenance agreements or repair protocols for Lake Albert 2 are not publicly available.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity of Lake Albert 2 is not disclosed in public sources, nor are details about its fiber pair count, supplier, or technology. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to determine the cable's data throughput capabilities or the specific optical technologies employed. This lack of transparency is not uncommon for smaller regional cables, especially those serving localized markets.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency over the 44 km wet segment of Lake Albert 2 is approximately 0.2 milliseconds, with a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor of 0.4 milliseconds. This calculation assumes light traveling through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 km/s. However, real-world latency is higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies.
Live measurements from GeoCables' remote probes provide insights into end-to-end latency from various global locations to Kasenyi. For example:
- Jerusalem -> Kasenyi: Minimum 218.6 ms, average 219.3 ms
- Cape Town -> Kasenyi: Minimum 80.5 ms, average 80.6 ms
- Sydney -> Kasenyi: Minimum 418.5 ms, average 418.9 ms
These figures reflect the full internet path, not the cable itself, and include latency contributions from terrestrial networks, routing, and intermediate hops.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Lake Albert 2 were to experience a fault, redundancy would depend on alternative infrastructure in the region. The Lake Albert 1 cable, part of the same family, may provide some backup capacity, though its route and specifications are not detailed in the available data. Repair logistics for Lake Albert 2 would likely involve specialized vessels capable of accessing the lake and conducting underwater repairs.
Given the relatively short length of the cable, repair times might be quicker compared to longer submarine systems. However, the availability of equipment and expertise in the region would be critical factors.
Bottom line
- Lake Albert 2 spans 44 km across Lake Albert, connecting Kasenyi (DR Congo) to Mpeefu (Uganda).
- Owned by Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS), it was recorded as ready for service in 2020.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
- Computed latency over the wet segment is approximately 0.4 ms RTT, though real-world measurements are higher due to network factors.
- Redundancy may rely on Lake Albert 1 or other regional infrastructure.