• Telecom Egypt and partners sign deal for new intercontinental cable

• AAE-2 to enhance data flow, infrastructure resilience, and digital access

• Project supports growing demand for bandwidth and route diversification

Telecom operators are increasing investments in submarine cable systems to expand the reach of global fiber optic infrastructure. Telecom Egypt and several other providers signed a memorandum of understanding this week to develop the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) cable, aiming to improve intercontinental connectivity amid rising bandwidth demand and the need for diversified digital routes.

The AAE-2 will connect Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy, passing through Thailand, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt. Mohamed Nasr, CEO of Telecom Egypt, said the system will also interconnect with existing submarine cables to strengthen network integration. Once operational, AAE-2 will expand data transmission capacity, improve infrastructure resilience against outages or cyber threats, narrow the digital divide, and support the digital economy.

The project builds on strategic systems like AAE-1, SEA-ME-WE 6, and 2Africa, which link the African, Asian, and European continents. It will enhance intercontinental infrastructure to improve digital coverage in underserved regions.

Global internet traffic continues to grow due to the adoption of cloud computing, 5G, and digital platforms. The AAE-2 initiative is part of broader efforts to shift the balance of control in international digital networks in an increasingly connected world.