In collaboration with Telecom Egypt, a leading telecom operator in the region, SubCom, a global subsea data system supplier, and the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) partners have completed the landings of the IEX Subsea system in Egypt. The 10,000-km IEX system connects Mumbai with Milan, Italy, with landing points in Oman, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Greece. This project includes two diversified trans-Egypt terrestrial crossing routes, enhancing connectivity between continents and seas. New cable landing stations have been installed at Zafarana2 on the Red Sea coast and Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean coast.
Telecom Egypt noted that IEX is the first international cable to connect via the Sidi Kerir landing station and the fourth at Zafarana2. Both stations are interconnected through two diversified trans-Egypt terrestrial crossing routes for added redundancy. This completion marks the fifth subsea cable to land in Egypt over the past decade and the tenth in terms of landing count. Telecom Egypt facilitated the landing process with efficient permit cycles, approvals, and logistical support. With its extensive experience and infrastructure, Telecom Egypt played a crucial role in connecting the IEX subsea cable system between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
Mohamed Nasr, Managing Director and CEO of Telecom Egypt, emphasized the company’s commitment to high-quality services and continuous development of international infrastructure to meet growing digital demands. “By providing landing and crossing services at Zafarana2 and Sidi Kerir landing stations, and linking them through two novel crossing routes diverse from those already used by the current 14 subsea systems crossing Egypt, we are presenting our international partners with unique opportunities via our state-of-the-art, highly reliable services and continuously developed international infrastructure,” he said.
SubCom engineered, manufactured, and deployed the 10,000-km IEX system, incorporating advanced technologies like space-division multiplexing (SDM) and Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) ROADM. David Coughlan, President and CEO of SubCom, expressed satisfaction with the milestone, emphasizing SubCom’s expertise in delivering reliable solutions for data-driven organizations.
The completion of the IEX subsea cable system marks the fifth subsea cable to land in Egypt over the past decade and the tenth in terms of landing count. Telecom Egypt aims to diversify its services and solidify its position as a major international telecommunications hub in the region. Through strategic partnerships and technological advancements, Telecom Egypt continues to enhance its infrastructure to meet global connectivity needs.
