A powerful consortium of telecom leaders, including PCCW Global, Sparkle, Telecom Egypt, and Zain Omantel International (ZOI), announced a groundbreaking partnership to construct the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) subsea cable system, set to revolutionize global connectivity.
The companies formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), outlining plans for a high-capacity, secure network linking Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy. The AAE-2 cable will traverse key terrestrial routes across Thailand, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt, creating a robust data highway connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Building on the success of the AAE-1 cable, AAE-2 promises a geographically diverse, high-performance route designed to handle surging international data traffic. The system integrates subsea and terrestrial infrastructure to deliver reliable, end-to-end connectivity for enterprise, wholesale, and hyperscale clients.
Frederick Chui, CEO of PCCW Global, emphasized the project’s significance: “AAE-2 builds on our legacy of supporting critical global infrastructure, delivering scalable connectivity to empower digital growth in markets like Hong Kong.”
Sparkle’s CEO, Enrico Bagnasco, highlighted the strategic vision behind the initiative: “With investments in systems like Blue & Raman and hubs in Genoa, Palermo, and Chania, AAE-2 strengthens the Asia-Africa-Europe corridor, offering low-latency infrastructure for global digital transformation.”
Mohamed Nasr, CEO of Telecom Egypt, underscored Egypt’s pivotal role: “Through our WeConnect ecosystem and this collaboration, we’re cementing Egypt’s position as a digital hub bridging continents.”
ZOI’s CEO, Sohail Qadir, described AAE-2 as a milestone for the region: “This AI-ready, resilient infrastructure will connect digital ecosystems, unlocking economic growth and empowering emerging markets.”
The AAE-2 cable system is poised to become a cornerstone of global connectivity, supporting the demands of a rapidly digitizing world