A global consortium of four leading subsea cable operators—Telecom Egypt, PCCW Global, Sparkle, and Zain Omantel International (ZOI)—has announced the launch of the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) subsea cable system, a next-generation infrastructure initiative poised to redefine global digital connectivity.
The consortium formalized the partnership through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the project aimed at establishing a high-capacity, low-latency digital corridor linking Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy, while traversing key terrestrial routes across Thailand, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt. The system is positioned to play a strategic role in meeting the rapidly expanding demands of cloud computing, AI, content delivery, and digital transformation across three continents.
A Future-Proof Digital Highway
Building on the foundation of the AAE-1 cable system, which already serves as a major transcontinental link, AAE-2 is envisioned as a geographically diverse, resilient, and AI-ready infrastructure combining subsea and terrestrial assets. The system will also include strategic extensions to additional destinations along its route, further expanding the global digital footprint of its operators.
“This collaboration marks a defining milestone for ZOI and the region we proudly serve,” said Sohail Qadir, CEO of ZOI. “As the international gateway for the Middle East, AAE-2 reflects our long-term vision to connect continents and digital ecosystems through resilient and state-of-the-art infrastructure.”
Expanding the Digital Frontier
The cable system will deliver unprecedented bandwidth capacity across Asia, Africa, and Europe, with particular attention to route diversity and network security—two key demands in a world increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure for economic and strategic security.
“We are pleased to bring our expertise to AAE-2, an advanced, high-capacity and geographically diverse subsea cable system,” said Frederick Chui, CEO of PCCW Global. “It underscores our commitment to delivering scalable connectivity to empower digital growth across key markets, including Hong Kong.”
The project also aligns with Sparkle’s global network strategy, which has recently included investments in the Blue and Raman submarine systems and new landing hubs in Genoa, Palermo, and Chania.
“AAE-2 is an innovative project that enhances route diversity and ensures network resilience,” said Enrico Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle. “It reflects our vision of combining terrestrial and subsea solutions to meet the evolving digital demands of businesses and communities.”
Egypt at the Nexus of Global Connectivity
Telecom Egypt, which controls vital cable landing stations connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, will play a pivotal role in anchoring the terrestrial segment of AAE-2 through its WeConnect ecosystem, offering the project seamless interconnection with other subsea systems.
“AAE-2 is a continuation of our success story as a global data connectivity provider,” said Mohamed Nasr, CEO of Telecom Egypt. “It is another testament to our commitment to driving digital connections through major collaborations.”
Strengthening Global Infrastructure
As the world faces increasing pressures on digital infrastructure from surging data demand, cybersecurity concerns, and the growth of generative AI and edge computing, AAE-2 is designed to future-proof the global internet backbone.
