Medusa Submarine Cable: Bridging Europe and North Africa in a Digital Revolution
In a significant leap for digital connectivity, the Medusa submarine fiber optic cable system, owned by AFR-IX Telecom, has successfully completed its first landing at a cable station in Marseille, France. This milestone marks the beginning of a transformative journey for communications across the Mediterranean, and it’s just the start of what promises to be an ambitious endeavor to enhance connectivity between Europe and North Africa.
The preliminary segment of the Medusa project links Marseille with Bizerte, Tunisia, and Nador, Morocco, with more landings anticipated from late October through December. As the project unfolds through 2026, it envisions a sprawling network of over 8,700 km of submarine cable designed to interconnect Southern Europe with North Africa, featuring 19 strategic landing points.
The innovation doesn’t stop at length; the Medusa system boasts cutting-edge technology, accommodating segments with up to 24 fiber pairs, each capable of transmitting data at an impressive rate of 20 Tbit/s. This means that by the time the first phase becomes operational in early 2026, users can expect lightning-fast internet speeds and improved digital services across the interconnected regions.
“We have set the groundwork for a project that will not only transform communications between Europe and Africa but also act as a catalyst for economic growth and knowledge exchange across the Mediterranean,” said Norman Albi, CEO of AFR-IX Telecom. His words echo the grand vision of Medusa—a bridge fostering better relations and technological advancements between diverse cultures.
Choosing Marseille as the inaugural landing point was no accident. Known as one of Europe’s leading digital hubs, its proximity to a multitude of data centers makes it an ideal location for such a vital project. The European Union’s substantial support for this endeavor further highlights its significance, providing co-financing through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program, aimed at boosting connectivity within Europe and its neighboring regions.
Medusa doesn’t just stop at connecting the Mediterranean. This pioneering project aims to establish a crucial corridor stretching from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean, with a landing point in Portugal, and even reaching the Red Sea via Aqaba, Jordan. This ambitious infrastructure represents a total investment of €342 million, and while it is driven by private initiatives, the support from public funding—including €38.3 million from the EU and €40 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB)—is a testament to its importance.
As the Medusa project continues to roll out, it stands as a beacon of progress in the interconnected world, promoting collaboration, enhancing digital access, and ultimately creating a more cohesive digital landscape across Europe and Africa.
#WorldNews #Technology #BusinessNews #Connectivity #Europe #NorthAfrica
