Ooredoo Group has secured the first landing point for the Fibre in the Gulf (FIG) submarine cable in Kuwait, in partnership with the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA). This historic agreement will position Kuwait as a key data transit hub, significantly enhancing regional and global connectivity.
The FIG cable, which will have 16 fibre pairs and a capacity of up to 480 Tbps, will form a high-capacity, fully integrated subsea network connecting all GCC countries and beyond. This cable is set to be operational in Q4 2027 and will support growing demand for cloud services, AI, big data, and digital transformation across the region.
The project is aligned with Ooredoo’s strategy to expand its digital infrastructure and network capacity, positioning the company as a leader in digital connectivity across the GCC. Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Bin Nasser Al Thani, Ooredoo’s Group Regional CEO for the Middle East, emphasized that this initiative would position Ooredoo as a key player in facilitating data traffic between Asia and Europe.
CITRA’s Director General, Abdullah K. Alajmi, emphasized that the partnership will help elevate Kuwait’s digital transformation and strengthen its position as a critical global data transit hub, benefiting both businesses and consumers by improving network reliability, internet speeds, and digital infrastructure.
Developed in partnership with Alcatel Submarine Networks, the FIG project will be the largest subsea cable in the GCC, offering up to 720 Tbps of capacity across 24 fibre pairs. The cable will provide major benefits to businesses, hyperscalers, data centers, and telecom operators by improving network resilience, reducing latency, and enabling AI, cloud, and big data applications.
