Europe-Africa Connectivity Gets a Boost as the Medusa Cable Reaches Marseille

The Medusa Cable reaches Marseille today, giving a big boost to Europe-Africa connectivity. This is an exciting moment because it starts a new way to connect Southern Europe and North Africa with faster and stronger internet and communication. The Medusa Cable, owned by AFR-IX Telecom, landed this morning at Marseille’s cable landing station. This is Medusa’s first landing on the European side and is a big step in its plan to link countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

The first part of the Medusa Cable will connect Marseille in France with Bizerte in Tunisia and Nador in Morocco. These two North African landings are expected between late October and December. After that, more landings will happen gradually through 2026. When the whole project is done, Medusa will stretch over 8,700 kilometers and have 19 landing points, making it easier for data to travel between Europe and Africa. This shows just how important the Medusa Cable is for increasing Europe-Africa connectivity.

Medusa is built to carry a huge amount of data. It has segments with up to 24 pairs of fiber optic cables, each capable of sending 20 terabits per second. That means a lot of information can move quickly and without problems. The first part of Medusa should be ready to use by early 2026.

Norman Albi, the CEO of AFR-IX Telecom, said that making Medusa reach Marseille puts the project on strong ground. He believes this cable will change the way Europe and Africa communicate and help the economy grow by making it easier to share knowledge and work together across the Mediterranean.

Marseille was picked as the first landing spot on purpose. It is one of Europe’s main centers for data and has many submarine cables coming together there. This makes it the perfect place to start the Medusa Cable because it can connect well with other networks already in use.

The project also has support from the European Union. The EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program helped pay for part of it. The EU gave about €38.3 million to support Medusa and its goal to improve links between Europe and North Africa. The European Investment Bank added another €40 million to back a project called GÉANT, which helps connect research and education networks in the region.

Medusa is more than just a cable under the sea. It acts as a corridor that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal and the Red Sea near Jordan. It will link 12 countries, including Portugal, Morocco, Spain, France, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Malta, Libya, Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt.

With a total investment of €342 million, this private project is also supported by public money, showing how important it is to improve communication between Europe and Africa. The Medusa Cable will bring faster internet, less delay, and stronger connections to many countries.

The Medusa Cable reaching Marseille is a major step for Europe-Africa connectivity. It opens up new chances for businesses, schools, and people to connect and share ideas. As Medusa continues to grow over the next year and beyond, it will make the Mediterranean a stronger digital link, helping millions of people on both continents stay connected.

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