Telecom Egypt and Power Sub Link Partner to Build Sharm El Sheikh-Taba Subsea Cable

Telecom Egypt, one of North Africa's largest subsea cable operators, has signed an agreement with Power Sub Link to construct the Sharm El Sheikh-Taba subsea cable, a project that will extend the Red Sea Subsea Festoon Cable System to Taba. The move is positioned as a critical step in completing connectivity between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, reinforcing Egypt's role as a strategic digital hub at the crossroads of three continents.

The new cable will span approximately 200 kilometers and deliver a capacity of around 5 petabits per second, with service expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027. The route will link Suez, Zafarana, Ras Ghareb, Sharm El Sheikh, and Taba, broadening Telecom Egypt's subsea infrastructure footprint across the Red Sea and Sinai Peninsula. Under the agreement, Power Sub Link will lead the implementation of the cable system.

Tamer El Mahdi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, said the project aligns with the company's new strategy to maximize its role in digital infrastructure and strengthen its position regionally and internationally. "The Sharm-Taba cable is another significant milestone in the development of Telecom Egypt's international infrastructure, particularly its subsea infrastructure in Sinai, strengthening route diversity, resilience, and capacity," he said. El Mahdi added that the cable advances a new eastern digital corridor connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean through the Sinai Peninsula, leveraging Egypt's unique geographic position.

Byron Skaftouros, Managing Director of Power Sub Link, emphasized the broader significance of the project. "Together with Telecom Egypt, we are not simply delivering subsea infrastructure; we are helping shape the next generation of global connectivity. By developing a resilient Red Sea bypass, we reinforce Egypt's position as a strategic gateway between continents, strengthen the security and continuity of international communications, and create new digital corridors of lasting global significance," he said.

Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hendy, also welcomed the initiative, noting that the development reinforces Sinai's role as a key component of Egypt's digital infrastructure. "The Ministry is committed to strengthening Egypt's position as a global connectivity hub between East and West, and to continuing the development of its international digital infrastructure to support global data traffic and meet the growing demand for secure, efficient, and diverse international data transmission," Hendy said.

Egypt remains one of Africa's most connected markets. According to Arizton Advisory & Intelligence, as of June 2026, 17 subsea cables are operational in Egypt, with six more under development. The country's continued investment in connectivity underscores its role as a gateway linking Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and the Sharm El Sheikh-Taba cable is expected to further cement that position by adding much-needed route diversity and resilience to global data traffic.