Telecom Egypt, Egypt’s first integrated telecom operator and one of the largest subsea cable operators in the region, and 4iG Plc, the Budapest-based info-communications company in Hungary and the Balkan region, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to link Egypt and Albania via a point-to-point, high-capacity subsea cable.
The planned cable will leverage the newly launched open and neutral ecosystem, “WeConnect,” to enable its direct cross-connection with numerous subsea systems in Egypt.
With an open access model and multiple branching units, the system is set up to be a new European cable entry point via Albania. It represents a qualitative addition to the existing Mediterranean routes, connecting to the main internet point of presence (PoP) in Europe such as the ones in Budapest, Vienna and Frankfurt, in addition to numerous potential PoPs in Eastern Europe.
The MoU was signed in Cairo by Mohamed Nasr, managing director and CEO at Telecom Egypt, and Gellért Jászai, chairman of the board of directors at 4iG Plc. The signing ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and H.E. András Kovács, Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to Egypt, and a host of leaders from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Telecom Egypt.
In line with Telecom Egypt’s strategy to diversify the Mediterranean basin crossing options for partners, Nasr stated, “We are pleased to cooperate with 4iG to set the ground for adding a brand new, diverse entry point to Europe in Albania, facilitating the routing of the African and Asian traffic to the main Points of Presence in Central and Eastern Europe.”
Marking their entry into intercontinental connectivity, Jászai remarked, “The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with Telecom Egypt represents a significant milestone for 4iG Group. 4iG Group further aims to strengthen its presence in the regional market with the establishment of a new data gateway in Albania for the Balkans. The expansion of international optical transit routes will create new opportunities for us to cooperate with many countries in the region.”
H.E. Dr. Amr Talaat stated: “The MoU aims to promote cooperation between Egypt and Hungary by constructing a new subsea cable between Egypt and Albania in order to enhance connectivity.”
H.E. Dr. Talaat pointed out that Egypt is keen to expand its international digital infrastructure, especially as more than 90% of the data transferred between the East and the West passes through Egypt, thanks to its distinguished geographical location. This comes within the framework of the strategy targeting Eastern Europe, with the aim of enhancing business sustainability and future expansions.
“We are currently implementing projects to increase the number of international subsea cables in Egypt. We already have 14 cables, and work is underway to establish five new ones through international alliances with prominent industry players,” added H.E. Dr. Talaat.
H.E. András Kovács commented: “We hope that such agreements would enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of ICT and help expand governmental collaboration between the Egyptian and the Hungarian Ministries of Communications and Information Technology. These efforts will resonate in the business sector, especially as many Hungarian ICT companies are getting more interested in exploring investment opportunities in Egypt.”
