Gulf Nations Accelerate Subsea Fiber Projects as Red Sea Tensions Halt Western Cables
Gulf telecom operators, led by Ooredoo, are pouring billions into new subsea and land fiber routes to bypass the Red Sea amid heightened security risks and the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Security concerns have forced major tech firms to halt subsea cable construction in the Red Sea, prompting Gulf states to fast-track their own connectivity projects. Qatar’s Ooredoo Group is investing over $500 million in the Fibre in the Gulf (FIG) system, a near-2,000-kilometre cable expected to finish in late 2027, delivering up to 720 terabits per second and routing around the Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Strait of Hormuz.
Although the U.S.-Iran war has complicated logistics, Ooredoo is advancing land-based fiber and collaborating with du, Saudi Telecom Company on the Sonic corridor, and with STC on the SilkLink network across Syria to the Mediterranean. Additional initiatives include the WorldLink hybrid cable linking the UAE to Iraq and Turkey. These investments aim to support the Gulf’s AI ambitions, ensure data-sovereignty, and reduce reliance on the congested Egypt-Red Sea corridor that carries over 90 % of Europe-Asia traffic.
Why it matters
The projects will reshape global data routes, securing AI growth and reducing reliance on vulnerable Red Sea corridors.
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