
ZOI, PCCW Global, Sparkle, and Telecom Egypt to construct AAE-2 subsea cable linking Asia, Africa and Europe
Next-generation subsea digital link will empower emerging markets, drive digital transformation and unlock economic growth
In a landmark move to advance global connectivity, a consortium of four powerful subsea cable operators, namely Zain Omantel International (ZOI), PCCW Global, Sparkle, and Telecom Egypt have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the construction of the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) subsea cable system.
The project aims to establish a robust next-generation subsea digital link connecting Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy traversing secure and high-capacity terrestrial corridors across Thailand, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt. It is planned to strategically deliver unprecedented capacity and foster seamless, reliable connectivity across the three continents.
AAE-2 will also feature strategic extensions to additional key destinations across its route, further enhancing intercontinental connectivity and supporting the growing demands of cloud services, content delivery, and digital transformation initiatives across the regions.
This ambitious initiative is designed to revolutionize global connectivity by delivering a geographical diverse, resilient, and high-performance route for international traffic. By integrating both subsea and terrestrial infrastructure, AAE-2 will create a future-proof 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.
The project is spearheaded by industry leaders ZOI, PCCW Global, Sparkle, and Telecom Egypt, combining expertise and resources to deliver a world-class infrastructure. This groundbreaking project marks a vital step in addressing the increasing demand for robust internet infrastructure, facilitating faster data transfer and improved connectivity across multiple regions. The consortium is dedicated to ensuring the successful delivery of this transformative infrastructure project, which will play a crucial role in shaping the future of global connectivity.
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. AAE-2 reflects our long-term vision to connect continents and digital ecosystems through resilient and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Our cooperation brings together advanced infrastructure, diverse terrestrial routes and AI-ready capacity. AAE-2 will strengthen global traffic flows, empower emerging markets and unlock new avenues for economic growth across the region and beyond.'
Frederick Chui, Chief Executive Officer of PCCW Global, commented: 'PCCW Global is proud to contribute to the AAE-2 initiative, building on our legacy of supporting vital global infrastructure. 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, commented: '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. Among the key initiatives, the Blue & Raman submarine cable systems- linking Italy to India through an innovative path - together with the strengthening of the Sicily Hub in Palermo and the hub in Chania as well as the creation of a brand new scalable landing platform in Genoa. With AAE-2, we are taking a further step forward, contributing to the creation of a distinctive infrastructure that combines terrestrial and subsea solutions to deliver secure, high-capacity, and low-latency connectivity in support of the digital transformation of businesses and communities worldwide"
Mohamed Nasr, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, commented: "Over the years, we have made major investments and established partnerships to develop our cutting-edge subsea cable infrastructure, that we are witnessing today. The construction of AAE-2 cable system is a continuation of our success stories as a global data connectivity provider and is 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 reshape the future of digital infrastructure."
About Zain Omantel International (ZOI)
Zain Omantel International (ZOI) is the Middle East's premier wholesale powerhouse serving regional operators, international carriers, global hyperscalers and cloud providers seeking services within the region and beyond. The first-of-its-kind joint venture signifies a substantial advancement in the telecommunications industry and is poised to become a global powerhouse due to Zain's extensive regional presence and success in the retail and digital arenas, combined with Omantel's exceptional wholesale capabilities and comprehensive international subsea and terrestrial networks. ZOI manages all international wholesale requirements of Zain and Omantel operations in eight countries, serving over 50 million customers.
For more details on the consortium, please visit www.zainomantel.com; www.pccwglobal.com; tisparkle.com, te.eg
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Tahawul Tech
an hour ago
- Tahawul Tech
NTT DATA launches AI powered software defined infrastructure services for Cisco
Reimagined Software Defined Infrastructure services enhance optimisation, reduce costs and accelerate transformation in the era of AI Dubai — NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, is marking a major milestone in its 30-year collaboration with Cisco by launching AI powered Software Defined Infrastructure services (SDI) for Cisco's infrastructure and software products. This latest evolution reinforces the companies' longstanding partnership, aimed at helping organisations modernise IT infrastructure and accelerate digital transformation. 'With AI-powered SDI services, we're leveraging our strategic vision to provide organisations with proactive, intelligent automation, helping them navigate the complexities of hardware and software alignment to business,' said Aditya Afzulpurkar, Senior Vice President, Technology Solutions, NTT DATA, Inc. 'We are proud of the evolution of our partnership with Cisco as both companies go beyond traditional services to help clients solve real business challenges in the era of AI.' Meeting an urgent market need Modern infrastructure requires a non-traditional approach. According to NTT DATA's 2024 GenAI research, 80% of organizations agree that inadequate or outdated technology is holding back organisational progress and innovation efforts. In fact, 94% of C-suite executives believe legacy infrastructure is greatly hindering their business agility. AI infrastructure investments are a critical part of organizations' ability to modernise and companies know the clock is ticking, yet only 13% are ready to leverage AI and AI-powered technologies to their full potential, according to Cisco's 2024 AI Readiness Index. 'As businesses navigate increasingly complex technology lifecycles, they need partners who combine automation, intelligence, and measurable results,' said Leslie Rosenberg, Research Vice President, Network Lifecycle and Infrastructure Services, IDC. 'SDI services deliver on all three, redefining the way enterprises manage IT infrastructure.' NTT DATA's SDI services for Cisco products deliver intelligent automation and real-time insights to optimize infrastructure, reduce costs and drive business outcomes. NTT DATA has invested significantly in AI capabilities to provide clients with assured outcomes, asset management and more. 'For over 30 years, NTT DATA and Cisco have collaborated in delivering innovation and accelerating customer success,' said Shannon Leininger, Vice President, Global Partner Sales at Cisco. 'NTT DATA will now also provide AI-powered digital infrastructure services to enable future-proofed workplaces and AI ready data centers — bringing together networking and security to empower organizations with a modern digital infrastructure for the AI era.' Key Capabilities of NTT DATA's AI-Powered SDI Services Outcomes-Based Shared Success Plans: clearly outlined goals, identification of risks and rewards, and ensuring accountability. AI-Powered Service Reliability: smart technology that helps keep systems running smoothly, reducing unexpected breakdowns, and ensuring reliability. AI-Driven License Management: advanced tracking and analysis to prevent costly software issues, optimize resources, and eliminate unnecessary expenses. Business Focused Technology: Every tech investment is guided by strategies that prioritize client satisfaction, innovation, security, and align with IT services. Seamless Digital Access: a user-friendly, digital-first interface including a mobile application to provide instant updates on requests, risks, licenses, and helpful AI insights. Advancing Three Decades of Collaboration NTT DATA is Cisco's only Gold partner across 34 countries, earning 40 awards at Cisco's 2024 Partner Summit, including three global partner of the year awards. Their collaboration has supported over 4,000 enterprises worldwide, providing lifecycle services to enhance business agility. With over 14,000 technical experts in 50+ countries, they deliver solutions ranging from small branch networks to global enterprise infrastructures, including private 5G. Proven Success and Live Showcase NTT DATA's AI-powered SDI services are available globally. Attendees can experience this innovation firsthand at Cisco Live Americas 2025 on June 9, 2025, where NTT DATA will showcase how AI-powered infrastructure management is revolutionising IT.


Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Pakistan PM in UAE: President Sheikh Mohamed, Sharif discuss bilateral cooperation
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, where the two leaders held talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing key regional and international developments. The meeting, held at Qasr Al Shati, also included the exchange of Eid Al Adha greetings, with both leaders offering prayers for continued prosperity in their countries and peace across the Muslim world and beyond. Discussions centered on enhancing collaboration in economic, investment, and development sectors, with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening strategic ties. They also exchanged views on current regional challenges and emphasised the importance of supporting global efforts to promote peace and stability. Prime Minister Sharif praised the UAE's diplomatic leadership in advancing dialogue and conflict resolution and expressed appreciation for the UAE's continued support for Pakistan's development initiatives. Senior officials from both nations attended the meeting, which underscored the growing partnership between the UAE and Pakistan. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sharif was welcomed at Al Bateen Airport by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser.


Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
E& enterprise and Microsoft join forces to drive AI adoption across industries
E& enterprise, the digital transformation arm of global technology group e&, is further building on its strategic partnership with Microsoft. By joining forces, both entities are prioritising the development and deployment of next-generation AI and data-driven solutions to bolster AI adoption across industries in target markets across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (Menat) region, including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar. Amit Gupta, vice-president, sata & AI, e& enterprise, said: 'Our partnership with Microsoft represents a bold step toward redefining the role of AI in shaping the future of business and society. This collaboration combines e& enterprise and Microsoft's technological expertise and deep market insights to deliver transformative solutions that resonate with the unique dynamics of the MENAT region. Together, we aim to promote digital readiness and bridge the digital divide by providing essential sectors with next generation AI and data-driven tools, powering them to drive improved customer interactions, optimise operations, and drive broader innovation.' Ahmed Hamzawy, chief partner officer, Microsoft UAE at MS, said: 'Our partnership with e& enterprise will give a significant boost to driving AI adoption across businesses. By leveraging our combined technological expertise, and the safe and secure properties of Microsoft's cloud and AI services, we are empowering organisations to better detect fraud, improve risk management and deliver personalised services through AI-driven insights to their customers.' The partnership focuses on providing scalable AI solutions tailored to the unique needs of various industries, including public sector, telco, education, BFSI and retail. By equipping businesses with the tools needed for digital transformation, e& enterprise and Microsoft aim to empower organisations to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly data-driven world. With industry-specific AI solutions, the partnership is designed to address a wide range of use cases across sectors. Additionally, the collaboration takes a region-specific approach to implementing and scaling these solutions across key, diverse, and digitally demanding markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. This ensures that local market needs are met while tackling broader industry challenges, ultimately enhancing efficiency, customer engagement, and decision-making. As part of its focus on developing GenAI solutions, the partnership will leverage various product offerings under Microsoft's Azure Cloud platform. Tools such as Azure Machine Learning, an end-to-end machine learning platform; Azure Databricks, a unified, open analytics platform; and Azure AI Search, Microsoft's search and retrieval system, will support data processing, model training, and deployment. Azure Synapse Analytics is another analytics tool that will support data integration and analytics, enabling large-scale data processing for organisations across sectors. Additionally, with the integration of Microsoft's Azure OpenAI service, organisations will be able to leverage a suite of GenAI solutions for automating customer service, content creation, and predictive analytics. Azure Power BI is a self-service analytics solution that enables businesses to visualise data, share insights, and embed them into their apps or websites. This tool will support businesses in making informed decisions. Meanwhile, Azure Data Lake Storage and Snowflake will facilitate the storage and management of large datasets, as well as real-time analytics, across the target markets of this partnership: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. These solutions from Microsoft combined with e& enterprise's comprehensive suite of hybrid cloud solutions aim to drive seamless digital transformation, as part of this strategic alliance. e& enterprise's Cloud Strategy and Advisory services will help organisations design tailored adoption strategies, while Migration and Adoption will ensure smooth transitions with minimal disruption. By providing organisations with Managed Cloud Services, and Cloud Security, e& enterprise will empower organisations to drive long-term efficiency and safeguard data, ensuring compliance and resilience. To promote responsible and ethical AI adoption, the partnership will implement Microsoft's Responsible AI principles and framework and e&'s Responsible AI Framework across all its development and deployment stages. This aligns with both entities' shared commitment to prioritising data privacy, transparency, and compliance with corporate and national policies.