Nokia has announced that it will power the Medusa submarine cable system, a project owned by AFR-IX Telecom.
The groundbreaking new subsea fibre-optic network will connect the Atlantic coast, Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, creating a new high-capacity digital corridor in the region, driving connectivity, innovation and economic growth.
The Medusa subsea cable is a significant step toward closing the digital divide between Europe and North Africa, connecting countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Egypt with high-capacity fibre-optic links. Designed as an open-access system, Medusa provides telecom providers across the region with access to advanced connectivity services, supporting the rollout of 5G, the growth of cloud infrastructure and the increasing bandwidth demands of AI and future technologies.
Leveraging Nokia’s 1830 GX Series platform and advanced ICE7 coherent optics—capable of transmitting tens of terabits per second per fibre pair—the Medusa subsea cable system is equipped to deliver high-capacity, low-latency connectivity with optimal cost and power efficiency per transmitted bit.
“Medusa is laying the groundwork for a more connected and inclusive digital future. With Nokia’s subsea optical solution, we will be able to deliver greater value to our customers by offering faster, more reliable connectivity at a lower cost, with the flexibility to scale as needs evolve. This partnership ensures we meet the demands of today while building a strong, future-ready infrastructure for tomorrow,” said Miguel Angel Acero, CTO and Founder of Medusa.
“Medusa is helping to deliver new, faster and more reliable connectivity to millions of people, opening the door to greater innovation and deeper integration into the global digital economy. At Nokia, we’re proud to support this transformative project, bridging continents and enabling the future of an AI-driven society,” said John Harrington, SVP and Head of NI Europe, MEA and APAC Sales at Nokia.
