Italy branch will happen from the start, with other country branch lines in the pipeline
Hungary and the Western Balkans-focused telco 4iG and Telecom Egypt, have signed the terms of cooperation for a joint venture to build a subsea cable between Albania and Egypt, first announced last October. As the first cable to link the two countries, the planned subsea cable’s Mediterranean route will add another layer of diversity to the conventional Mediterranean routes linking Egypt to Italy and France.
During the original announcement 4iG said it will build a data centre ecosystem and deepen its terrestrial fibre footprint in Albania following its deal with Telecom Egypt to deliver a high-capacity subsea cable. The cable confirms Telecom Egypt’s ambition to be at the heart of Europe-Asia traffic. In September last year, the telco launched its WeConnect platform which provides a single platform for click-to-order cross-connectivity between the 14 subsea cable systems landing in Egypt’s ten cable stations, linked via the ten terrestrial routes spanning the country. The new Albania cable will link to WeConnect guaranteeing access to this new route from all other landing stations and sea cables in Egypt.
Two weeks ago, Telecom Egypt joined forces with Jordan telco NaiTel, the telecom arm of Aqaba Digital Hub, to construct a new subsea cable system connecting Egypt and Jordan called Coral Bridge. The cable will extend between Jordan’s Aqaba and Egypt’s Taba and is aimed at fulfilling increasing demand on AI applications and data centres, capitalising on the short distance between its two landing points.
Branches possible
4iG and Telecom Egypt said their new cable will have the option to be extended to major Mediterranean destinations such as Libya, Cyprus, and Greece. The initial configuration of the subsea cable will also include a branch to Italy.
At both ends of the cable, users will benefit from varied extension options with an open point-of-presence concept. Egypt’s end of the cable will provide access to various subsea cables running southeast via the Red Sea to Asia and Africa, in addition to more than 10 terrestrial trans-Egypt routes connecting the Mediterranean cable segment to other cable extension options in the Red Sea. On Albania’s end, the system will provide the shortest path to Frankfurt, as well as other important international traffic destinations in Eastern and Central Europe and the Balkans, such as Sofia, Vienna and Budapest.
4iG Group chairman Gellért Jászai said the deal was an important step for 4iG Plc to become part of a global data communications network that can accelerate its growth and competitiveness in international markets. “Today’s agreement is an important step for 4iG Plc to become part of a global data communications network that can accelerate our growth and competitiveness in international markets,” he said.
“This project not only provides business opportunities, but also contributes to strengthening our international digital connections. Our strong market presence in Albania gives us the opportunity to make the additional onshore investments necessary for the success of the project and to open a new data gateway to Europe in cooperation with Telecom Egypt,” he added.
“We are thrilled to embark on our journey with 4iG to construct this one-of-a-kind cable system that will designate Albania as a new entry point to Europe,” said Telecom Egypt managing director and CEO Mohamed Nasr. “This newly added Mediterranean route will cater for the booming growth in international traffic coming from Asia and Africa to Europe across our diverse terrestrial transit network linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.”
“Egypt is keen to expand its international digital infrastructure, especially given that more than 90% of the international data traffic between the East and the West passes through the country thanks to its distinguished geographical location – with 14 international subsea cables currently in service. Work is underway to establish another 5 international subsea cables through international alliances,” added Egypt’s ICT minister Amr Talaat.
4iG chairman Gellért Jászai (front, right) and Telecom Egypt managing director and CEO Mohamed Nasr (front, left) signed the agreement in Budapest, Hungary, in the presence of Márton Nagy, minister of the national economy of Hungary (rear, right) and Amr Talaat, ICT minister of Egypt (rear, left), as well as officials from both companies.