Global consortium in deal to build AAE-2 subsea cable network

Trade Arabia

11-06-2025

In a landmark move to advance global connectivity, a consortium of four powerful subsea cable operators - Zain Omantel International (ZOI), PCCW Global, Sparkle, and Telecom Egypt - have signed a MoU to collaborate on the construction of the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) subsea cable system.
A next-generation subsea digital link, AAE-2 will be linking Asia, Africa and European continent, as part of its efforts to empower emerging markets as well as drive digital transformation and unlocking economic growth.
The project is spearheaded by industry leaders 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 aims to deliver unprecedented capacity and reliable connectivity by creating a future-proof data highway across the three continents.
It 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.
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, it added.
On the mega initiative, Zain Omantel International CEO Sohail Qadir said: "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," he stated.
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.
Frederick Chui, Chief Executive Officer of PCCW Global, said: "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," he stated.
Sparkle CEO Enrico Bagnasco 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," he noted.
Among the key initiatives are the Blue & Raman submarine cable systems - that links 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," stated Bagnasco.
Telecom Egypt Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Nasr said: "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," he noted.