e& Carrier & Wholesale is poised to serve as the main anchor for the 2Africa subsea cable, marking the most extensive subsea cable system landing in the UAE to date. Kalba, a serene city in the North-eastern part of the United Arab Emirates, has been selected as the strategic gateway for this significant development. This choice complements e&’s existing Fujairah cable landing station, reinforcing diversity and resilience in the UAE’s connectivity landscape.
The 2Africa consortium, consisting of Bayobab, centre3, China Mobile International, Meta, Orange, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC, is spearheading the development of a remarkable 45,000 km submarine cable system. This project stands as the world’s largest subsea cable endeavor, facilitating interconnection between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Alcatel Submarine Networks is tasked with the manufacturing and installation of the 2Africa cable, which is set to provide essential Internet capacity and reliability across substantial parts of Africa while addressing the growing capacity demand in the Middle East.
As the designated landing partner for 2Africa in the UAE, e& will lead the development of the necessary infrastructure for the landing station and will be responsible for maintenance in the coming decades.
Nabil Baccouche, e& Group Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer, expressed, “The 2Africa project promises to elevate the overall digital landscape in the region, solidifying the country’s position as one of the region’s premier ICT hubs. e&’s involvement in this transformative project will significantly enhance the Internet user experience in the UAE, enabling the world’s largest content providers and global carriers to deliver cutting-edge technology in e&’s carrier-neutral data center ecosystem, SmartHub.”
Approximately 20 subsea cable systems land in the UAE, with the majority managed by e&, which boasts unique technical expertise, a robust operating structure, a neutral access Data Centre, diverse landing stations, and adherence to global standards.
