Greece, Saudi Arabia Eye Fibre Optic Data Cable To Link Europe With Asia

Greece and Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday on the main terms to set up a joint venture to lay a fibre optic data cable that will link Europe with Asia, Greek sources said on Tuesday. From a report: The "East to Med data Corridor", an undersea and land data cable, will be developed by MENA HUB, owned by Saudi Arabia's STC and Greek telecoms and satellite applications company TTSA. Greece's power utility Public Power Company (PPC) and Cyprus' telecoms operator CYTA, will also hold a stake in the project, pending final corporate approvals, a Greek diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The final closing of the deal is expected by July, for the project to launch in autumn and be completed by the end of 2025, the diplomat said.

Guess who is bypassed?

[CeresLee]

"Another person close to the deal said the cable, which will connect users from Italy to Singapore, will cost about 800 million euros ($857.68 million)." Imagine this will bypass Russia, at least, I hope so until Russia are a free nation.

Re:Guess who is bypassed?

[fermion]

Implying Saudi Arabia is a more free nation?

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Implying Saudi Arabia is a more free nation?

Of course yes. The world had been brainwashed into thinking "free" == "tow US's line" since Soviet Union collapsed.

If Saudi stops selling oil in USD tomorrow, then it would immediately become the next devil incarnate and must have a regime change asap.

Re:

[CeresLee]

I do think not but no one in the our U.S. State Dept. is asking me. They just grease thereselves with Saudi oil and spread their "cheeks" for them. And Yemen is awash with blood and starving children and no one cares.

Re:

[Vlad_the_Inhaler]

Greece has quite a bit in common with Russia, it's the shared Orthodox heritage. I first noticed that during the Yugoslavian breakup wars - Greece was cooperating with Israel (!) in running guns to the (Orthodox) Serbs. No idea what Israel was getting from the deal, their interest appeared to be purely financial but that simply means I don't know what else it could have been.

Elon made them an offer they could not refuse

[nospam007]

And his solution can not be cut by a Russian sub.

Re:

[real_nickname]

Showing is peepee in exchange of 250k is not a solution. Also it can be cut.

Lebanon in the middle?

[fermion]

I see Greece, I see Saudi Arabia. I donâ(TM)t see how the two can be connected directly by sea.

Re:

[solartear]

Doesn't get you to Arabia. There are a lot already going through Egypt from Med Sea to Red Sea. It's probably preferred over Israel and the unstable nations around it.

Re:

[Erioll]

I had the same thought, and wondered then why Egypt isn't a signatory here too, given that's likely where it's going through, but the international laws surrounding Suez are probably "myriad" and thus they might not need them? I dunno.

Re:

[nicolaiplum]

You still need Egyptian permission to dig a cable into the ground next to the Suez canal. It's all Egyptian property now.

Do not look into cable with remaining eye

[Drishmung]

Greece, Saudi Arabia Eye Fibre Optic Data Cable To Link Europe With Asia

Sorry, I couldn't resist. (I'll get my coat).

Is this unique?

[boxless]

I didnâ(TM)t see many details in the article, but the story in slashdot seems to make it like going from Europe to Asia is a big deal. Iâ(TM)m assuming a boatload of capacity exists. Surely theyâ(TM)re not going the other way âround.

FLAGging past efforts

[nicolaiplum]

Middle-Eastern investors funding Europe to Asia cable? Where have I heard that before?

https://www.wired.com/1996/12/... [wired.com]

That is still the best piece of writing about the submarine cable industry that you can find online today.