A $400 million cable that was to connect North Africa to the Arabian Gulf, Europe and Asia has been suspended.

This is a according to Orascom chief executive Khaled Bichara, who was quoted in a Zawya report.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 9000 kilometre cable is a joint venture among Orascom, which has a 94% stake, Link Egypt with 4% share, and In Touch and Mobiserve with a 1% share each.

The project was launched more than four years ago and, at the time, it was planned that it would deliver speeds up to 5.76 terabits per second

"The project has been halted due to the non-availability of certain government permits that are key to its completion," Bichara said.