e& Carrier & Wholesale and TNS Global have announced a partnership to launch a new high-performance digital connectivity corridor linking Kazakhstan and the UAE, strengthening regional interconnection and expanding connectivity options between Central Asia and the Middle East.
The new “South Route” connects Kazakhstan and neighboring Central Asian markets to the UAE through diverse, multi-operator terrestrial fiber segments. The route leverages TNS Global’s fiber-optic infrastructure across Kazakhstan and its network of more than 30 transborder connections, providing an alternative to traditional transit pathways and enhancing network resilience.
According to e&, the corridor is designed to support growing international capacity demand driven by hyperscale infrastructure, cloud interconnectivity, and carrier-grade services. The new route also improves path diversity and reduces dependency on single transit corridors, delivering low-latency performance with a round-trip delay of approximately 48 milliseconds between Dubai and Almaty.
Nabil Baccouche, Group Chief Carrier and Wholesale Officer at e&, said the initiative strengthens regional interconnection capabilities while reinforcing the UAE’s role as a key digital hub serving surrounding markets. He noted that the corridor complements e&’s broader interconnection fabric and supports increasing demand for high-performance connectivity across international networks.
Obaid Rahman, Group CEO of TNS Global, said the project forms part of a wider strategy to position Central Asia as a digital bridge between continents by building scalable terrestrial connectivity corridors linking Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He added that the collaboration enables more resilient and flexible connectivity options for operators, enterprises, and global partners across the region.
The new corridor reflects ongoing investments in terrestrial fiber infrastructure aimed at strengthening regional digital integration, supporting cloud growth, and enabling diversified connectivity routes across emerging digital markets.
