4iG Plc info-communications company and Telecom Egypt, Egypt’s first integrated telecom operator and one of the largest subsea cable operators in the region, have reached an agreement on the terms of cooperation for the construction of an express subsea cable between Albania and Egypt. 

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last October, this terms of cooperation agreement establishes a joint venture between the two companies for the intercontinental subsea cable project. The express subsea cable will create a high capacity, intercontinental connection linking Africa and Asia—through the Red Sea—to Europe, via Egypt, the Mediterranean, and Albania.

4iG Plc Chairman Gellért Jászai and Telecom Egypt Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Nasr signed the agreement in Budapest, Hungary, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Márton Nagy, Minister of National Economy of Hungary, and H.E. Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt, as well as top officials from both companies.

As the first cable to link the two countries, the planned subsea cable’s Mediterranean route will be quite unique, adding another layer of diversity to the conventional Mediterranean routes linking Egypt to Italy and France.  It will capture a significant share of the huge and rapidly growing data traffic market between Asia, East Africa, and Europe.

 Egypt’s end of the cable will provide access to various subsea cables running southeast via the Red Sea to Asia and Africa, in addition to more than 10 terrestrial trans-Egypt routes connecting the Mediterranean cable segment to other cable extension options in the Red Sea. On Albania’s end, the system will provide the shortest path to Frankfurt, as well as other important international traffic destinations in Eastern and Central Europe and the Balkans, such as Sofia, Vienna, and Budapest.

After the signing, Gellért Jászai, Chairman of the 4iG Group, stated:

 “Today's agreement is an important step for 4iG Plc to become part of a global data communications network that can accelerate our growth and competitiveness in international markets. This project not only provides business opportunities, but also contributes to strengthening our international digital connections. Our strong market presence in Albania gives us the opportunity to make the additional onshore investments necessary for the success of the project and to open a new data gateway to Europe in cooperation with Telecom Egypt.”

On the other hand, Mohamed Nasr,  Chief Executive Officer at Telecom Egypt, commented:

"We are thrilled to embark on our journey with 4iG to construct this one-of-a-kind cable system that will designate Albania as a new entry point to Europe. This newly added Mediterranean route will cater for the booming growth in international traffic coming from Asia and Africa to Europe across our diverse terrestrial transit network linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean”.

With an established history of over 165 years, and a vast expertise in pioneering the subsea intercontinental connectivity, Telecom Egypt is the partner-of-choice for a growing 160 major subsea cable players worldwide.