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
2 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
digital infrastructure Archives
CNME Editor Mark Forker spoke to Adawi Abu Joudeh, Managing Director at Cell Information, to find out more about their relationship with Cisco, the increase in market demand for better digital infrastructure and our need for better connectivity solutions.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
SL Benfica launch first-ever immersive store with AI concierge
Infinite Reality, a global leader in immersive digital experiences, announced a landmark partnership with SL Benfica, one of Europe's most storied football clubs, to launch the Benfica Immersive Store. This immersive web experience allows fans to engage with the club's content and shop the latest merchandise, all with a dynamic, lifelike multi-lingual AI concierge that assists customers in real time, helping them find products inside a Benfica-branded 3D locker room. Available now on the team's website at and built using Infinite Reality's proprietary software, the Benfica Immersive Store launch is the first time a professional football club has leveraged a virtual experience to power their official merch store. The innovative experience raises the bar for digital fan engagement, launching at a time when 76 per cent of Gen Z customers say they'd recommend brands that deliver standout online experiences. 'Sports fans today crave deeper connections with their favourite clubs beyond traditional media,' said Sam Huber, CEO of Mena and Global President of Enterprise at Infinite Reality. 'Benfica is redefining the online fan experience—combining immersive 3D environments, seamless commerce, and AI-powered personalisation to deliver engagement at global scale. This model allows any team, club, athlete, or major sporting event to meet fans where they are and elevate fandom beyond the field through interactive, gamified experiences.' The Benfica Immersive Store, was built leveraging Infinite Reality's full stack of immersive software and services to drive revenue and brand engagement, including strategy and concepting, 3D design, AI agent training, engineering, hosting, analytics and more. "At Sport Lisboa e Benfica, we're constantly seeking innovative ways to connect with our global fanbase," said José Gandarez, Vice President at SL Benfica. "This immersive platform developed with Infinite Reality Enterprise represents the future of digital fan engagement. As we prepare for our Fifa Club World Cup debut, we're proud to offer supporters a new and exciting way to experience our club, access content, and feel closer to the team regardless of their physical location." Founded in 1904, Sport Lisboa e Benfica is the most decorated club in Portugal, and one of the most decorated in Europe, with 83 official trophies and 38 national titles.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
Niger's Economy Rebounds in 2024 Thanks to Large-Scale Oil Exports and a Good Agricultural Season
Niger's economy recorded robust growth in 2024, driven by large-scale oil exports. However, short-term sources of growth remain limited and exposed to downside risks, according to the World Bank's latest economic update for Niger, published today. The report analyzes the country's economic, and poverty trends and provides a three-year outlook. A special chapter is dedicated to analyzing Niger's agri-food system, offering recommendations for its effective transformation. According to the report, Niger's economy grew by 8.4% in 2024, up from 2% in 2023. This acceleration was primarily fueled by the start of large-scale oil exports and strong agricultural production, supported by favorable weather conditions. Despite high inflation, including rising food prices, sustained growth contributed to a reduction of extreme poverty. Government revenues fell in 2024 due to a decrease in tax revenues – particularly trade-related taxes – leading to a reduction in investment spending. The resulting deficit, combined with a rapid accumulation of debt, led the IMF and World Bank to jointly downgrade Niger's debt sustainability risk rating from moderate to high. ' Economic growth is expected to remain relatively high in the short-term, but Niger's sources of growth – oil and rain-fed agriculture – are limited and vulnerable to shocks and volatility,' said Han Fraeters, World Bank Country Manager for Niger. ' Investing in an efficient and resilient agri-food system is crucial if Niger is to achieve long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth.' Economic growth is projected to slow down in 2025, due to a high base effect from 2024 but is expected to remain above 6%, supported by the continued expansion of the oil sector. Inflation is expected to ease, thanks to the strong 2024 harvest. The extreme poverty rate is project to decline in 2025-2027 if agricultural output remains robust. However, food insecurity will remain a challenge. ' If security risks are contained and efforts to expand irrigation are successful, growth could be higher,' said Danon Gnezale, Economist at the World Bank and co-author of the report. ' Several options exist to strengthen the agri-food system, including strengthening value chains and producer organizations, investing in climate-smart agriculture technologies, adopting better regulations, and improving infrastructure.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
