An undersea fiber optic cable linking Morocco and the Canary Islands will begin installation in late 2025, with operations expected in 2028, Spanish media OK Diario reported.
The project, which is expected to take about 42 months, will connect Europe and Africa from the port of Arinaga in Gran Canaria, through Gran Tarajal in Fuerteventura, before reaching Morocco’s coast in Taefaya or Boujdour, according to the same source.
The total cost is estimated at €49 million, with around €20 million coming from a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan, while €7.5 million has already been allocated for studies and design.
The cable is part of the European Connecting Europe Facility (CEF-Digital) program, which is designed to improve digital cohesion, enhance cybersecurity, and expand data exchange capacity between continents.
Once operational, the cable will boost data traffic between West Africa and Europe, enhance internet quality and speed, and support the establishment of data centers and technological infrastructure in the Canary Islands.
It will also provide alternative communication routes, making the network more resilient to disruptions, according to the same source.
The project is led by Spanish company Islalink, in partnership with Canalink, an operator linked to the Tenerife Island Council and the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER).
The goal, said OK Diario, is to position the Canary Islands as a key telecommunications hub in the Atlantic.
The project is part of a broader plan to diversify digital routes in the Canary Islands, designed to extend toward the African mainland.
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