Telecom Egypt and SubCom successfully reach significant landmark with the SEA-ME-WE-6 installations
The successful landing of the SEA-ME-WE-6 subsea cable system in Port Said and Ras Ghareb, Egypt, marks a significant milestone in the development of global network infrastructure and connectivity across Africa, Asia, and Europe. This ambitious project, spanning 21,700 kilometres and linking 17 landing points across three continents, will significantly enhance internet connectivity and data transmission capacity between these regions.
The cable system, which is the sixth edition of the SEA-ME-WE cable family, connects major hubs from Singapore (Asia) to Marseille, France (Europe), traversing Egypt via two diverse terrestrial routes between Port Said (Mediterranean coast) and Ras Ghareb (Red Sea). This strategic tri-continental link ensures robust and secure intercontinental data flow.
SEA-ME-WE-6 offers a design capacity of 126 terabits per second using advanced Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) technology, significantly increasing the bandwidth and speed of data transmission across Africa, Asia, and Europe. This capacity surge supports growing internet demand and digital services expansion across these continents.
The cable system’s dual landing points and terrestrial diversity across Egypt provide redundancy and increased network resilience, reducing the risk of outages due to physical disruptions. This is critical for maintaining stable connectivity in a geopolitically strategic region.
The project includes 16 major telecom operators such as Telecom Egypt, Microsoft, Orange, Singtel, and Bharti Airtel, reflecting a collaborative global effort to strengthen international telecommunications infrastructure and promote equitable connectivity.
By improving connectivity between Asia, Africa, and Europe, the cable system supports economic development, digital transformation, and cross-border data exchange in African and Middle Eastern countries, strengthening their integration into the global digital economy.
The cable is expected to be operational in early 2026, ushering in a new era of enhanced connectivity and network infrastructure across three continents. Its completion consolidates Egypt’s role as a vital telecommunications hub linking major global regions.
SubCom, the contractor responsible for building the SEA-ME-WE-6 subsea cable system, has played a vital role in the engineering, route design, manufacturing, and installation of the cable system. The company looks forward to the next set of milestones associated with the SEA-ME-WE-6 project.
This strategic development underscores Telecom Egypt's commitment to enabling the digital ambitions of countries across the region and beyond. The company's global reach is expanding with these landings, positioning it as a key player in the international telecommunications landscape.
[1] SEA-ME-WE-6 Subsea Cable System Press Release, SubCom, [date] [2] SEA-ME-WE-6 Landing in Egypt, Telecom Egypt, [date] [3] SEA-ME-WE-6: The Next Generation of Global Connectivity, Submarine Telecom Forum, [date]
- The SEA-ME-WE-6 subsea cable system, utilizing advanced Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) technology, will significantly improve both internet connectivity and data transmission capacity, proving that technology plays a crucial role in this infrastructure development.
- The tri-continental link of SEA-ME-WE-6, with its strategic terrestrial routes in Egypt, showcases a fusion of infrastructure and technology, ensuring robust data flow and enhancing the digital connectivity of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
