Syria has taken a significant step towards revitalizing its digital infrastructure with the signing of an agreement to deploy its first international submarine cable at the port of Tartous. This marks a pivotal moment in Syria’s communications network, reconnecting the country to global internet traffic after years of isolation.
The agreement was signed between Syria’s Telecommunications Company and Spanish firm Medusa, with the goal of establishing the first submarine cable linking Syria directly to the global telecommunications network.
A Strategic Digital Leap
The new submarine cable spans approximately 8,700 km, connecting Syria to Portugal and various Mediterranean ports. This direct link will significantly enhance Syria’s bandwidth capacity, improve transmission quality, and reduce latency, all of which are expected to boost internet speeds and stability across the country. It will also provide greater flexibility in managing international data flows.
For decades, Syria’s internet infrastructure suffered due to reliance on third-party intermediaries, leading to higher costs and diminished service quality. This new initiative will eliminate these intermediaries, restore direct access to global networks, and improve overall service reliability.
Integration and Future Expansion
The new submarine cable project will integrate with other national initiatives, such as the Silk Link project, which involves the installation of fiber optic infrastructure and the distribution of data bandwidth. The Ministry of Communications has confirmed that the final phase of the Silk Link project will be signed in the coming weeks.
“This project, along with others, will bring noticeable improvements to Syria’s internet connectivity in the coming weeks. We expect the network expansion to continue, with further upgrades as fiber optics reach households,” Minister Abdulsalam Haykal said following the signing.
Economic Opportunities and Long-Term Impact
The completion of this project opens the door to significant economic opportunities, including reduced communication costs, the attraction of data center investments, and enhanced digital infrastructure that can handle international traffic.
This submarine cable is not only a technological upgrade but also a key step in re-establishing Syria’s position in the global communications landscape.
