Egypt and Jordan Reunite After a Quarter-Century through the Establishment of Coral Bridge, a Subsea Cable, in Taba
A New Era of Digital Connectivity: The Coral Bridge Subsea Cable Project
The Middle East is poised for a digital revolution with the launch of the Coral Bridge subsea cable project, a significant step towards establishing a direct digital link between Egypt and Jordan for the first time in over 25 years [1][2][3]. This 15-kilometer high-capacity cable, spanning the Gulf of Aqaba, will revolutionize the way data is transmitted across the region.
The Coral Bridge, developed under a cooperation agreement between Telecom Egypt and NaiTel in January 2024, is designed with a large number of optical fibers, enabling the aggregation and transmission of high-capacity international data traffic [2][3]. Its short length boosts international data transfer speeds while reducing costs, making it an essential addition to the region's digital infrastructure.
The cable offers seamless connectivity across three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. This will support the rapid exchange of data, positioning Egypt and Jordan as digital hubs in the Middle East [3][5]. It also improves redundancy and backup connectivity, benefiting major enterprises, cloud providers, and hyperscalers hosted at key data centers, particularly in Jordan's Aqaba Digital Hub and Telecom Egypt’s new landing point in Taba [1][2][3][4].
The Coral Bridge is more than just a subsea cable; it's a symbol of the significance of cross-border partnerships for delivering sustainable benefits and paving the way for more infrastructure projects [6]. ICT Minister Amr Talaat emphasized Egypt's commitment to boosting its competitiveness as a primary hub for international data traffic between East and West [4]. The project reflects the commitment to sustainability at its core, ensuring a balance between capacity, performance, and environmental responsibility [7].
The landing of Coral Bridge, a high-capacity subsea cable, was witnessed via videoconference by several officials, including Amr Talaat, Sami Smeirat, and Khaled Mubarak. The cable is the first telecom system to be landed at the Taba landing station, part of the digital infrastructure recently established by Telecom Egypt in the Sinai Peninsula [1]. A plan is underway to expand the subsea cable network in the Sinai Peninsula, further enhancing Egypt's digital infrastructure [1].
Currently, more than 90% of data traffic between the two regions passes through Egypt via an extensive network of 15 subsea cables [8]. With the addition of Coral Bridge, Egypt now has approximately 11 landing points for subsea cables. The Coral Bridge project serves as a practical embodiment of the bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Jordan, strengthening their positions as regional digital hubs and contributing to the Middle East's digital revolution [9].
In summary, the Coral Bridge cable: - Ends a 25-year digital isolation between Egypt and Jordan. - Provides a fast, high-capacity subsea link across the Gulf of Aqaba. - Supports rising data demands from AI and data centers. - Enhances regional digital resilience and international data traffic routes. - Strengthens Egypt and Jordan as regional digital hubs.
This milestone reflects crucial progress toward a more connected, resilient, and efficient digital infrastructure landscape across the Middle East [1][2][3]. The Coral Bridge project is a testament to the potential of collaborative efforts in the ICT sector and a promising step towards a more interconnected future.
Read also:
- Rapid Expansion in Organic Rice Protein Market Projected at 15.6% Through 2034
- Kenya broadens economic zones featuring Olkaria's geothermal energy advantage
- Accelerated Expansion of OCR Technology Market at a Rate of 15.5%
- Century Lithium Announces Production of Battery-Grade Lithium Metal Anodes from Angel Island Lithium Carbonate
