The installation of an undersea fiber optic cable linking the Canary Islands and Morocco is scheduled to begin in late 2025. The project, led by Spanish company Islalink in partnership with Canalink, a subsidiary of the Tenerife Island Council and the Institute of Renewable Energy Technology, aims to transform the archipelago into a strategic communications hub in the Atlantic. According to OK Diario, the cable will run from the port of Arinaga on Gran Canaria, pass through Gran Tarajal in Fuerteventura, and land on the Moroccan coast at a location yet to be finalized, with Tarfaya or Boujdour considered the most likely options. The project is estimated to cost €49 million, including a €20 million loan from the European Investment Bank. Its first phase has secured €7.5 million in funding for feasibility studies and design. The work is expected to take 42 months, with operations starting in 2028, as part of the EU's CEF-Digital program to improve digital connectivity, boost cybersecurity, and expand data exchange between continents. Once operational, the cable will enhance data flows between West Africa and Europe, improve internet quality and speed, support the development of data centers and technological infrastructure, and provide alternative communication routes to increase network resilience in case of disruptions.
