News
The new partnership with Oceanic Environmental Cables (OEC) save more than 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e) from reusing the cable materials
The new deal will see OEC acquire and recover over 22,000km of Sparkle’s unused submarine cables from the Mediterranean seabed. From there, the cables will be delivered to OEC’s partners where they will be dismantled and analysed, with recovered materials repurposed or remanufactured.
Recovered materials include optical fibre, copper, steel, aluminum, and various plastics used to protect the cables.
“We are proud to be among the first global operators to undertake such an innovative initiative, promoting circular economy practices and reducing environmental impact”, said Enrico Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle. “The collaboration with OEC represents a concrete step toward a more sustainable future, where resources from the past can be recovered and transformed into opportunities for the present and the future.”
Financial details of the deal were not revealed.
There are currently over 500 active submarine communications cables around the world, spanning roughly 1.4 million kilometres. To repeat an oft-quoted figure, these cable systems carry over 95% of the world’s data traffic, making them an integral part of the global internet.
These cables, however, have a limited lifespan, typically around 25 years; more modern systems are often slightly more durable but may still be retired before their expiration date due to being made redundant by new systems.
After decommissioning, the now unused subsea cables typically remain on the seabed, often for many years or even indefinitely, waiting to be recycled or repurposed for new routes.
For example, the SEA-ME-WE 3 submarine cable system – for many years the longest submarine cable in the world – was retired in December last year, after 25 years in service.
(For those curious, the longest cable system today is the 2Africa system, which circles the African continent and spans over 45,000km.)
Combined, this myriad of forgotten cables represent a huge amount of valuable raw materials currently being wasted, which is where OEC sees an opportunity not only for profit but for a significant environmental impact.
”We are thrilled to partner with Sparkle on this important initiative. By retrieving and recycling these redundant cables, we are not only reducing the congestion and waste on the Mediterranean seabed but also reducing the need for virgin materials in manufacturing. This process significantly lowers carbon emissions and embodies the principles of a circular economy,” said Horst Brockmueller, CEO of OEC.
Is the submarine cable industry doing enough to promote a more sustainable future? Join the industry in discussion at Submarine Networks EMEA, the world’s largest submarine cable conference
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