Launch of the First Direct Submarine Cable in 25 Years Between Egypt and Jordan to Enhance Digital Connectivity

SadaNews - Amr Talaat, the Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and Sami Al-Smeirat, the Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, along with Khaled Mubarak, Governor of South Sinai, witnessed via video conference the installation of the high-capacity submarine cable system "Coral Bridge" in the Egyptian city of Taba.

This is the first direct submarine cable connecting Egypt and Jordan in more than 25 years, serving as a high-speed direct digital link supported by a large number of fiber optic strands crossing the Gulf of Aqaba, representing a pivotal step in the development of digital infrastructure in the Middle East.

"Coral Bridge" is the first submarine communications cable system installed at the Taba landing point, part of the digital infrastructure recently established by the Egyptian Telecommunications Company in the Sinai Peninsula.

The cable is set to be installed in Aqaba in the coming days at the Global Digital Data Center of Aqaba, ensuring the continuity of services by providing alternative paths and backup connections, which supports the plans of major companies and cloud service providers hosted in the data center to maintain their operations.

The cable provides seamless connectivity across the three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe, relying on the strategic location of both countries and the extensive submarine cable infrastructure of the Egyptian Telecommunications Company, enhancing business benefits locally, regionally, and internationally.

The submarine cable, spanning 15 kilometers, is designed with a significant number of optical fibers, enabling the aggregation and transmission of high-capacity international data traffic to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence applications and data centers. Additionally, its short length enhances the speed of international data transmission and reduces costs.

Talaat confirmed that the "Coral Bridge" submarine cable represents an addition to the Arab submarine cable system and is crucial in enhancing cooperation between Egypt and Jordan in the field of communications and information technology. He explained that it is the first submarine cable system to be installed in Sinai, as part of efforts aimed at diversifying international infrastructure by providing new landing points and new pathways for submarine cables on land, linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

He added that there is a plan in place to expand the submarine cable network in the Sinai Peninsula to provide closer locations for neighboring countries, thus enhancing regional connectivity and increasing the efficiency and speed of international data transmission.

Talaat pointed out the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's commitment to enhance Egypt's competitive position as a major transit point for international data traffic between East and West; noting that more than 90% of data traffic between East and West passes through Egypt via a massive system of submarine cables totaling 15 cables; adding that there are currently about 11 landing points.

For his part, Sami Al-Smeirat, the Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, clarified that Egypt and Jordan share a historical relationship, with the implementation of the "Coral Bridge" submarine cable project being a fruit of the cooperation between the two countries, as established by the political leadership in both nations.

He added that the project is a practical translation of this cooperation through the implementation of a project on the ground in the communications and information technology sector, especially as its implementation comes following the 33rd meeting of the Egyptian-Jordanian Supreme Committee held recently in the Jordanian capital, Amman; noting that this cable represents a digital outlet for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; clarifying that work is underway to maximize these digital outlets, positioning both Egypt and Jordan as regional and even global centers for data transmission.

"Coral Bridge" was designed according to the highest technical and environmental standards, developed with sustainability in mind, balancing capacity, performance, and environmental responsibility.

The cable was established in implementation of the cooperation agreement signed between the Egyptian Telecommunications Company, the leading provider of telecommunications and information technology services in Egypt and one of the largest submarine cable operators in the region, and Nitel, one of the telecommunications service providers in Jordan, serving as the communications arm for the Global Digital City of Aqaba in January 2024. This reflects the importance of cross-border partnerships, opening up new growth opportunities and achieving sustainable benefits for all stakeholders and paving the way for future infrastructure projects serving the Middle East and other regions around the world.