A fiber-optic cable will soon link Morocco to the Canary Islands, strengthening connectivity between Africa and Europe. This strategic project aims to secure data traffic and support regional digital development.
By 2028, Morocco and the Canary Islands will be connected by a submarine fiber-optic cable, a strategic initiative set to transform data flows between Africa and Europe. Led by the Spanish company Islalink, in partnership with Canalink—a subsidiary of the Cabildo de Tenerife and the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER)—the line will start at the port of Arinaga (Gran Canaria), pass through Gran Tarajal (Fuerteventura), and reach the Moroccan coast, likely at Boujdour or Tarfaya.
The project, estimated at 42 months of work and an investment of €49 million, is backed by a €20 million loan from the European Investment Bank. The design and feasibility studies were already supported by €7.5 million in European funding.
This initiative falls under the EU’s CEF-Digital program, aimed at strengthening digital cohesion, improving cybersecurity, and increasing data exchange capacity between continents. The cable will employ ultra-thin glass fibers, shielded against abyssal pressure, ocean currents, and interactions with marine life, ensuring stable, high-speed transmission of voice, video, financial data, and scientific applications.
Beyond the technical scope, the infrastructure is designed to consolidate the Canary Islands’ role as a strategic telecommunications hub in the Atlantic and to foster the growth of a regional digital ecosystem. For Morocco, it complements ongoing efforts to position the Kingdom as an African and Atlantic digital hub, while deepening bilateral cooperation with Spain.
The new link will also enhance the resilience of data traffic: in case of outages on other cables, flows can be rerouted seamlessly, minimizing disruption. In the longer term, the project could encourage the establishment of data centers and tech infrastructures in the region, strengthening the northwest Atlantic’s place within global digital networks.
