Tunisia launches new submarine cable: What’s next for connectivity?

Tunisia has recently inaugurated a new submarine cable, prompting speculation about potential future developments in connectivity for the country.

Submainre cables carrying Internet traffic

Tunisia has recently inaugurated the Ifriqiya submarine cable, connecting Bizerte with Marseille and Abu Talaat, aimed at enhancing connectivity with Europe. The development of submarine cables is part of a broader effort to strengthen international connectivity and expand broadband penetration across regions

The cable, located in the coastal city of Bizerte, was officially put into operation the week starting 3 March 2024, attended by officials from the Ministry of Communication Technologies and representatives from Ooredoo Tunisia, the operator.

With a capacity of 200 GBT and spanning 950 kilometres from Bizerte to Marseille, France, and Abu Talaat, Egypt, the Ifriqiya cable aims to provide a data transmission capacity of approximately 3 TB/s. It is anticipated that the cable’s high data rates and reliable services will attract investments from major companies, while also supporting Tunisia’s telecommunications infrastructure and facilitating the rollout of 5G services.