As the demand for global connectivity grows, a consortium of four subsea cable operators, PCCW Global, Sparkle, Telecom Egypt, and Zain Omantel International (ZOI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) subsea cable system.
According to the partners, the project's goal is to build a strong next-generation subsea digital link that will connect Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy via secure and high-capacity terrestrial corridors in Thailand, the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt.
Furthermore, it is intended to provide unprecedented capacity and promote seamless, dependable connectivity between the three continents.
In a statement, the trio stated that AAE-2 will include strategic extensions to additional key destinations along its route, enhancing intercontinental connectivity and supporting the growing demand for cloud services, content delivery, and digital transformation initiatives across the regions.
They went on to say: “This ambitious initiative is designed to revolutionise global connectivity by delivering a geographically diverse, resilient and high-performance route for international traffic.
“By integrating both subsea and terrestrial infrastructure, AAE-2 will create a futureproof data highway between Asia, Africa and Europe.
“Building on the legacy of the AAE-1 cable, AAE-2 will incorporate the most advanced technological innovations offering unprecedented bandwidth capacity to serve the tremendous traffic needs and empowering communities and businesses across Asia, Africa and Europe.”
This project marks a vital step in addressing the increasing demand for robust Internet infrastructure, facilitating faster data transfer and improved connectivity across multiple regions, according to the statement.
The consortium stated that it is committed to ensuring the successful completion of this transformative infrastructure project, which will play an important role in determining the future of global connectivity.
Frederick Chui, chief executive officer of PCCW Global, commented: “. Following our instrumental role in the success of the AAE-1 system, we are pleased to bring our expertise to AAE-2, an advanced, high-capacity and geographically diverse subsea cable system connecting Asia and Europe.
“This next-generation network underscores our continued commitment to delivering resilient, secure and scalable connectivity for key markets such as Hong Kong, empowering the digital growth of tomorrow.”
Enrico Bagnasco, chief executive officer of Sparkle, said: “The AAE-2 cable system is an innovative project perfectly in line with Sparkle’s long-term strategy to strengthen the Asia–Africa–Europe corridor by enhancing route diversity and ensuring the highest levels of network resilience.
“In recent years, we have invested in new submarine systems and established advanced landing hubs along this strategic route, reinforcing our commitment to reliable global connectivity.”
Mohamed Nasr, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, commented: "Over the years, we have made major investments and established collaborations to develop our cutting-edge subsea cable infrastructure that we are witnessing today.
“The construction of the AAE-2 cable system is a continuation of our success stories as a global data connectivity provider and another testament to our commitment to driving digital connections through major collaborations.
"AAE-2 will also benefit from accessing and cross-connecting with the other subsea cables using our WeConnect ecosystem.
"We are thrilled to be embarking with PCCW Global, Sparkle and ZOI on this transformative project that will shape the future of digital infrastructure."
Sohail Qadir, chief executive officer of ZOI, commented: "This collaboration marks a defining milestone for ZOI and the region we proudly serve. As the international gateway for the Middle East, we are uniquely positioned at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, making us a strategic enabler of next-generation connectivity.
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