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The investment is expected to support the growth of cloud services, big data, and accelerate digital transformation across the region
Ooredoo has partnered with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), a French company specialising in submarine cables, to build a new cable that will connect seven countries in the Middle East region: Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. It is not clear at this stage how long the cable will be.
The Fibre in Gulf (FIG) project will provide GCC countries with a faster, more secure route to Europe, offering a capacity of up to 720Tbps and 24 fibre pairs. This will improve connectivity for hyperscalers, businesses, governments, AI providers, data centres, and telecom operators by boosting network reliability, security, and speeds.
“This historic project aligns with Ooredoo’s ambitious strategy to lead in digital infrastructure by expanding network capacity and interconnectivity across the GCC and beyond,” said Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group CEO of Ooredoo in a press release.
Alain Biston, CEO at ASN said the project will be “a game-changing initiative that will mark a turning point in regional connectivity across the GCC. Leveraging ASN’s cutting-edge technologies and operational excellence, this state-of-the-art infrastructure will reliably deliver exceptional capacity and connectivity, empowering the region’s digital transformation ambitions and establishing it as a pivotal hub for global data exchange,”
The deal will help to further establish the region as a key player in addressing the rapidly growing data demand between Asia and Europe.
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