AFR-IX Telecom Builds Medusa Submarine Cable System
The 7,100 km infrastructure project links nine countries across Southern Europe and North Africa to improve connectivity.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Data Centers
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AFR-IX Telecom is developing the Medusa submarine cable system, a 7,100 km project that provides ultra-high capacity mesh connectivity. The initiative connects nations across Southern Europe and North Africa to boost regional internet infrastructure.
Why it matters
The project aims to upgrade regional connectivity and support inclusive economic growth by integrating North African nations into the Information Society. Increased bandwidth is expected to drive long-term productivity and digital development across the participating regions.
The Medusa cable spans 7,100 km and utilizes 12 landing points to facilitate open access connectivity. The system integrates terrestrial links between submarine stations and existing research and education networks.
The players
AFR-IX Telecom
This private telecommunications company is the primary promoter responsible for the construction and management of the Medusa submarine cable system.
European Union
The political and economic union provided a 40 million euro contribution through its Neighbourhood Investment facility to support regional digital infrastructure.
European Investment Bank
This financial institution provides oversight for the project and has classified the developer as a private entity exempt from specific EU public procurement mandates.
The details
The project connects Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Cyprus with Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt. Beyond the physical cable, the infrastructure is projected to catalyze the development of local ancillary facilities such as new data centers.
Timeline
The project was identified for development in 2021.
The Tech Race
This project follows a pattern set by the European Union Neighbourhood Investment facility in financing cross-border digital infrastructure. It marks a shift toward regional mesh connectivity, replacing legacy point-to-point systems to improve resilience and capacity.
The expansion of this high-capacity cable system promises improved internet stability and bandwidth for users in North Africa and Southern Europe. Long-term, the growth of data centers at landing points could lead to more robust local digital services and hosting capabilities.
The takeaway
The Medusa project highlights the growing importance of mesh submarine networks in closing the digital divide between neighboring continents. As connectivity expands, local regions can expect better integration with global information networks and increased technical capacity.
Further reading
For broader context on infrastructure developments, visit our Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EIB.
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