Senegal Horn of Africa Regional Express (SHARE) Cable

Senegal Horn of Africa Regional Express (SHARE) Cable: connecting Dakar to Praia

The Senegal Horn of Africa Regional Express (SHARE) Cable is a submarine telecommunications cable linking Dakar, Senegal, to Praia, Cape Verde. Stretching 720 kilometers, the cable is listed as in service as of 2023, according to the GeoCables database. It is owned by Agence De L’informatique del’Etat, a Senegalese government agency. While specific technical details such as design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier have not been disclosed, the cable plays a role in enhancing connectivity between West Africa and the Atlantic archipelago of Cape Verde. One notable aspect of the SHARE Cable is the absence of publicly available information about its design and technology. This lack of transparency contrasts with other cables in the region, many of which have detailed specifications available. Additionally, live latency measurements indicate significant delays compared to the theoretical latency floor, raising questions about network routing or equipment configurations.

Quick facts

Length	720 km
Ready-for-service year	2023 (GeoCables database; no conflicting sources identified)
Owners	Agence De L’informatique del’Etat
Status	In service
Design capacity	Not disclosed
Fiber pairs	Not disclosed
Supplier	Not disclosed
Technology	Not disclosed
Landing points	Dakar (Senegal), Praia (Cape Verde)
Other cables at Dakar	2Africa, Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), MainOne, SAT-3/WASC
Other cables at Praia	Cabo Verde Telecom Domestic Submarine Cable Phase 1, Cabo Verde Telecom Domestic Submarine Cable Phase 3, EllaLink, West Africa Cable System (WACS)

Route

The SHARE Cable connects Dakar, Senegal, to Praia, Cape Verde, traversing a direct route across the Atlantic Ocean. Dakar is a major telecommunications hub in West Africa, hosting several international cables, while Praia serves as Cape Verde's primary landing point for submarine cables. Both locations are critical for regional connectivity, linking Africa to Europe and the Americas.

Why it was built and what it carries

The SHARE Cable was likely built to strengthen connectivity between Senegal and Cape Verde, facilitating data exchange and improving internet access in both countries. As an intercontinental link, it complements existing cables in Dakar and Praia, providing additional capacity and redundancy for regional telecommunications networks. However, without disclosed design capacity or fiber pair information, the precise scale of its contribution remains unclear.

History: what can be established

The GeoCables database records the SHARE Cable as ready for service in 2023, with no conflicting dates identified in industry sources. Its ownership by Agence De L’informatique del’Etat suggests a government-driven initiative to enhance digital infrastructure in Senegal. The cable's construction and deployment timeline have not been publicly documented, leaving its development history largely unknown.

Capacity and technology

Publicly available data does not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, or supplier of the SHARE Cable. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to determine the cable's maximum data throughput or the specific technologies employed in its construction. This lack of transparency limits the ability to assess its role in the regional telecommunications landscape.

Latency: the physics

Theoretical latency for the SHARE Cable, based on light propagation over 720 kilometers of fiber, is approximately 3.5 milliseconds one-way and 7.1 milliseconds round-trip. However, live measurements from remote probes show much higher latency between Dakar and Praia, with a minimum of 101.5 milliseconds and an average of 106.1 milliseconds over eight checks. This discrepancy likely arises from factors such as terrestrial network routing, terminal equipment delays, and internet path inefficiencies, rather than the cable itself.

Redundancy: what happens if it breaks

Both Dakar and Praia are connected to multiple submarine cables, providing redundancy in case of a failure of the SHARE Cable. Dakar hosts major cables such as 2Africa, Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), MainOne, and SAT-3/WASC, while Praia is linked to Cabo Verde Telecom Domestic Submarine Cable Phase 1 and Phase 3, EllaLink, and West Africa Cable System (WACS). Standard industry practice for submarine cable maintenance involves deploying specialized cable repair ships to locate and fix faults, minimizing downtime.

Bottom line

• The SHARE Cable connects Dakar, Senegal, to Praia, Cape Verde, over 720 km.
• It is owned by Agence De L’informatique del’Etat and listed as in service since 2023.
• Design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology details have not been disclosed.
• Live latency measurements significantly exceed the theoretical floor, likely due to network routing and equipment factors.
• Redundancy is provided by several other cables at both landing points.