Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
In November 2025, reports indicated that work on the Red Sea segment of the 2Africa system had already been temporarily halted due to permitting challenges and attacks on vessels by Iran-backed Houthi forces. The Google-backed Blue-Raman cable project was also reported to have paused work in the region under similar circumstances.
du partners with Datawave Networks to land the SING subsea cable in the UAE, creating a resilient low-latency connectivity corridor linking the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia while supporting AI, cloud, and hyperscale infrastructure growth across the region.
The SeaMeWe-6 subsea cable has landed in Karachi, marking a major boost to Pakistan’s international connectivity. Spanning 21,700 km and linking Asia to Europe, the system includes 17 landing points and is due to go live next year. Transworld Associates is the landing partner and says the investment supports Pakistan’s digital infrastructure ambitions.
Meta and global telecom partners have completed the 2Africa subsea cable, the world’s longest open-access system spanning 33 countries and connecting three billion people. With capacity exceeding all existing African subsea cables combined, it promises faster, cheaper, and more reliable internet, accelerating digital inclusion, AI innovation, and regional economic growth.
Telecom Egypt has completed the infrastructure for the 45,000-km 2Africa subsea system, a record-breaking cable set to deliver massive capacity, strengthen Africa–Europe connectivity, and position Egypt as a global digital hub.
Mobily’s Red Sea Cable partnership with Power Sub Link marks Saudi Arabia’s first fully owned subsea system, linking Duba and Sharm El-Sheikh to enhance regional data connectivity. The project supports Vision 2030 and strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a global digital hub.
The $23 million Kenya–Oman subsea cable by Safaricom and Meta will provide East Africa with cheaper, more reliable internet and greater resilience. For Safaricom, it marks independence from leased systems, while Meta strengthens its role in Africa’s connectivity through major subsea, data, and fiber investments.
NaiTel and Telecom Egypt have completed the Coral Bridge subsea cable, the first direct link between Jordan and Egypt in over 25 years. The 15-km system, equipped with 48 fibre pairs, delivers 1 Petabit capacity, ultra-low latency, and cost efficiency, enhancing regional connectivity across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Algerie Telecom and Sparkle partner to build a high-capacity subsea cable linking Italy and Algeria, enhancing connectivity with cybersecurity and cloud services. Announced during the Italy-Algeria Business Forum, the project aims to diversify Algeria’s international routes.
stc lands 2Africa Pearls subsea cable in Bahrain, increasing capacity 10x and enhancing infrastructure for 5G, AI, and IoT in line with Bahrain Vision 2030.