- The EU’s CEF digital programme funds Medusa’s extension into West Africa.
- AFR-IX telecom to conduct marine surveys and expand interconnectivity.
What happened: EU backs Medusa subsea cable expansion into West Africa
AFR-IX Telecom has received a $15.6 million EU grant to expand the Medusa subsea cable system into West Africa. The funding, part of the EU’s $452 million CEF Digital programme, aims to enhance digital connectivity and drive economic growth.
The Medusa Africa project will create a dedicated African subsystem, extending the Medusa network southward to meet rising demand. AFR-IX Telecom will conduct marine surveys for a branching unit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, with plans for more routes along the West African coast.
The Medusa cable features 24 fibre pairs, delivering up to 20 Tbps per pair. Spanning 8,700 km, it connects 21 landing points, providing open-access, high-capacity solutions for businesses, telecom operators, and governments. The expansion will reduce congestion and enhance redundancy across the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.
The EU’s $452 million digital investment includes $153 million for subsea cables. AFR-IX also secured $4 million for ATMED Malta, linking Malta to Medusa. Other funded projects include ATMED-DG, ATMED NADOR-DG, and ATMED EAST-DG, all boosting regional interconnectivity.
Recently, Tunisie telecom partnered with Medusa to launch a 20 Tbps fibre-optic link between Bizerte, Tunisia, and Marseille, France, strengthening North Africa’s connectivity.
Why it’s important
The Medusa Africa expansion is a major step in bridging the digital divide between Europe and Africa. With rising demand for high-speed internet in West Africa, robust infrastructure is vital for economic growth and technological progress.
The EU’s $452 million investment underscores its commitment to digital expansion, ensuring secure, high-capacity interconnectivity for businesses, telecom providers, and public institutions. The open-access model enhances transparency, while new landing points along West Africa’s coast will ease congestion and boost network resilience.
This funding strengthens Europe’s role in global telecommunications while fostering economic ties with Africa. Projects like ATMED Malta and Tunisie Telecom’s fibre-optic link further expand subsea connectivity.
As digitalisation accelerates, the Medusa subsea cable system will support data-driven economies and future-proof global networks.
