The operator has inked a deal to construct fresh subsea infrastructure spanning the Red Sea, linking two key Egyptian coastal cities. The 200-kilometre connection will augment Telecom Egypt's Red Sea Subsea Festoon Cable System, establishing a seamless underwater pathway that encompasses Suez, Zafarana, Ras Ghareb, Sharm El Sheikh and Taba.

The infrastructure is engineered to deliver approximately five petabits per second in design capacity, leveraging state-of-the-art fibre-optic systems to boost throughput, minimise latency and enhance overall network resilience. Beyond capacity gains, the route will furnish a more direct connection between the two endpoints, offering international carriers and operators additional flexibility in how they direct their traffic flows.

Completion is targeted for the final quarter of 2027. Once operational, the expanded Red Sea Subsea Festoon Cable System will introduce fresh landing facilities and an additional undersea corridor serving Egypt's Red Sea coastline.

Power Sub Link (PSL), a firm specialising in subsea installation and marine engineering services, will execute the cable deployment.

Strategic significance

H.E Raafat Hendy, Minister of communications and Information Technology, characterised the initiative as part of Egypt's broader agenda: "This agreement reflects Egypt's continued efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure and enhance the diversity and resilience of its international connectivity routes and reinforce Egypt's pivotal role in global digital connectivity."

He added that "The development of the new subsea cable further reinforces the role of Sinai as an important component of Egypt's digital infrastructure by expanding its subsea and terrestrial infrastructure. The Ministry is committed to strengthening Egypt's position as a global connectivity hub between East and West, and to continuing the development of its international digital infrastructure to support global data traffic and meet the growing demand for secure, efficient, and diverse international data transmission."

Tamer El Mahdi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, framed the project within the company's evolving direction: "This project aligns with our new strategy, which aims to maximise the company's role in digital infrastructure and strengthen its position regionally and internationally."

He continued: "The Sharm-Taba cable is another significant milestone in the development of Telecom Egypt's international infrastructure, particularly its subsea infrastructure in Sinai, strengthening route diversity, resilience, and capacity. It advances a new eastern digital corridor connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean through the Sinai Peninsula, reinforcing our strategy of leveraging Egypt's unique geographic position at the crossroads of three continents."

El Mahdi concluded: "These investments demonstrate Telecom Egypt's continued commitment to supporting our international partners with secure, resilient, and high-capacity connectivity routes to meet the region's growing data demand."

Byron Skaftouros, Managing Director of Power Sub Link, underscored the broader implications: "Together with Telecom Egypt, we are not simply delivering subsea infrastructure; we are helping shape the next generation of global connectivity. By developing a resilient Red Sea bypass, we reinforce Egypt's position as a strategic gateway between continents, strengthen the security and continuity of international communications, and create new digital corridors of lasting global significance."

He added: "This is more than connectivity. It is resilience, strategic relevance, and infrastructure built for the future."

Source: Mobile Europe