Tunisie Telecom has entered into a strategic partnership with Medusa, the advanced submarine fibre optic system connecting the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Red Sea. This partnership involves the installation of a high-capacity, dedicated fibre optic link between Bizerte in northern Tunisia and Marseille, France, boasting a bandwidth of 20 Tbps and leveraging the latest in submarine cable technology. The deployment in the western Mediterranean is scheduled to begin in 2025, with completion expected by early 2026.
At the contract signing ceremony, Tunisie Telecom’s Chairman and CEO, Mr. Lassâad Ben Dhiab, expressed pride in joining the trans-Mediterranean digital connectivity project. He emphasized that the new connection will enhance the company’s fibre optic infrastructure and enable the provision of innovative, secure solutions to meet customer demands, further strengthening Tunisia’s digital ecosystem.
Tunisia’s Communications Minister, Sofiene Hemissi, highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative for reinforcing the nation’s digital sovereignty and improving its regional and international rankings in the digital sector.
Medusa’s expansive network, spanning over 8,700 km, will bridge the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and the Red Sea, creating a vital new route for global data traffic. This project complements Tunisia’s existing submarine cable systems, including PEACE, SeaMeWE-4, Didon, and the Hannibal system.
This move follows the recent announcement of Tunisia’s 5G internet rollout, a step towards boosting the country’s digital infrastructure. Tunisie Telecom is currently the second-largest mobile operator in Tunisia with 3.1 million 3G and 4G subscribers, holding a 29% market share, just behind Ooredoo Tunisia. Additionally, the company holds a 28.3% market share in fixed internet, with 28,092 fibre optic subscribers, ranking second after Topnet. With Tunisia’s population estimated at over 12 million, these advancements in connectivity are poised to drive significant digital growth for the country.
