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An ambitious undersea fiber optic cable project connecting the Canary Islands to the Moroccan coast is scheduled to begin installation in late 2025, with completion and operational launch expected by 2028, according to a report by Spanish news outlet OK Diario.
Spanning approximately 42 months, the project will establish a direct digital corridor between Europe and Africa. The cable will originate at the port of Arinaga on the island of Gran Canaria, pass through Gran Tarajal in Fuerteventura, and extend to the Moroccan coastline, with potential landing points in either Taefaya or Boujdour.
The total investment in the initiative is projected to reach €49 million. Of this amount, €20 million will be financed through a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). An additional €7.5 million has already been allocated to fund preliminary technical studies and design planning.
This transcontinental fiber optic link forms part of the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility – Digital (CEF-Digital) program, which aims to strengthen Europe’s digital infrastructure. The project is expected to increase data transfer capacity between continents, bolster cybersecurity, and improve overall digital integration between regions.
Once operational, the new cable will significantly enhance data transmission between West Africa and Europe. It will improve internet speed and reliability across the Canary Islands, support the creation of data centers, and contribute to the development of advanced technological infrastructure throughout the region.
Moreover, the new route will offer an alternative to existing communication pathways, increasing the resilience and redundancy of the broader European-African network in the face of potential disruptions. The initiative is being spearheaded by Islalink, a Spanish telecommunications company, in partnership with Canalink, a network operator affiliated with the Tenerife Island Council and the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER).
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The central aim of the project is to establish the Canary Islands as a strategic digital hub in the Atlantic. This move is part of a larger regional strategy to diversify and expand the Canary Islands’ connectivity, with a focus on strengthening ties with the African mainland and reinforcing Europe’s position in global digital communications.
