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.

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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.