Salam Confirms On-Track Development of Medusa Cable, Boosting Regional and Global Connectivity
By integrating Salam’s extensive terrestrial network and data-centre assets with AFR-IX Telecom’s subsea cable expertise, the partnership is poised to deliver stronger, more resilient, and high-capacity digital connectivity for Saudi Arabia and the wider Mediterranean region, marking a new chapter in the region’s data infrastructure development.
Etihad Salam Telecom (Salam) and AFR-IX Telecom have reaffirmed strong progress in their strategic partnership supporting the Medusa Submarine Cable System, one of the Mediterranean region’s most important connectivity projects. The update was confirmed during a bilateral meeting held at Connected World 2025 in Riyadh, where both companies highlighted that all components of their collaboration remain firmly on track.
As part of the agreement, Salam serves as the International Gateway Partner for the Medusa cable’s landing in Saudi Arabia. The company is responsible for providing terrestrial backhaul, interconnection, and capacity access to hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and regional carriers. This role supports Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major digital hub linking Europe, Africa, and Asia, in alignment with Vision 2030’s broader goals for digital transformation and economic diversification.
The Medusa Submarine Cable System spans approximately 8,700 kilometers, making it the longest subsea cable in the Mediterranean. Designed with cutting-edge ROADM and Space-Division Multiplexing (SDM) technologies, it boasts a total design capacity of 480 Tbps. The system will connect 11 countries, including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Jordan, significantly strengthening regional data flows and international bandwidth availability.
Both companies emphasized the strategic importance of the project. Salam noted the partnership as a central milestone in Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a regional connectivity hub, while AFR-IX underscored the transformative potential of Medusa in reshaping telecommunications across the Mediterranean basin. The ongoing collaboration ensures alignment with regional infrastructure priorities and continued progress at every stage.
By integrating Salam’s extensive terrestrial network and data-centre assets with AFR-IX Telecom’s subsea cable expertise, the partnership is poised to deliver stronger, more resilient, and high-capacity digital connectivity for Saudi Arabia and the wider Mediterranean region, marking a new chapter in the region’s data infrastructure development.
