Qatar-based telecom giant Ooredoo Group has partnered with the French company Alcatel Submarine Networks to establish a new fiber-optic and submarine cable network that will enhance regional connectivity.
The initiative, known as Gulf in Fibre, aims to link all six GCC nations—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, along with Iraq, creating a high-speed digital corridor to Europe that bypasses conventional telecom and internet cable routes.
Amid rising concerns over security threats to existing infrastructure—following incidents of undersea cable disruptions in the Red Sea—telecom firms across the region are ramping up efforts to strengthen connectivity between Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Ooredoo stated that the Gulf in Fibre network will deliver ultra-fast data transmission speeds of up to 720 terabits per second, catering to the growing demand for reliable digital infrastructure in Europe and parts of Asia. The system, spanning nearly 2,000 kilometers, is expected to enhance network security and service reliability for cloud service providers, governments, AI companies, data centers, and telecom operators.
Set for completion in 2027, the project aligns with Ooredoo’s vision to expand digital infrastructure across the Gulf and beyond. Group CEO Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo emphasized the company’s commitment to strengthening regional interconnectivity and capacity.
Alcatel Submarine Networks, which oversees a global portfolio of over 850,000 km of optical submarine cable systems, described Gulf in Fibre as a “transformational project” that will reinforce the region’s role as a key player in global data transmission.
Ooredoo is already involved in multiple undersea cable initiatives. In Oman, the company is part of a 45,000 km cable project connecting 33 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Additionally, it is collaborating with UAE telecom firm e& on the Gulf Gateway Cable 1 project to boost regional network capacity. In Iraq, Ooredoo has also partnered with the Ministry of Communications to develop undersea cables at the Al-Faw station, linking the country to over 200 global submarine cable systems.
