Telecom Egypt, Telin (a subsidiary of Telkom), and a leading Indian operator have inked a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a consortium aimed at developing the ICE IV Subsea Cable System Project. This Data Center to Data Center (DC to DC) system promises a unique route linking Intra Asia to India and the Middle East, redefining global connectivity standards.
The ICE IV project, stretching 11,000 km, will employ the latest open cable and subsea Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technologies to connect Indonesia and Singapore to India, Oman, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Set to become the first international cable to land in Kochi, India, in decades, ICE IV offers a resilient alternative route and a new international gateway.
The initiative is set against a backdrop of surging demand and scarce bandwidth inventory, driving the global bandwidth market’s expansion and the development of new Subsea Cable System (SKKL) projects.
With its groundbreaking design from Point of Presence (PoP) to PoP, ICE IV establishes a new standard, serving the needs of content providers and large data consumers more effectively, ensuring seamless connectivity, vast bandwidth, and network security diversity.
A significant milestone for the project was achieved during the prestigious Capacity Middle East event, where top management from the four leading companies signed the MoU, demonstrating their commitment to investing in and developing the global bandwidth market.
Nabil Baccouche, e& Group’s Chief Carrier and Wholesale Officer, highlighted ICE IV’s role in redefining connectivity maps, bringing continents closer, and unlocking bandwidth access for billions, with plans to make SmartHub the preferred neutral carrier hub location.
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Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO of Telin, emphasized customer demand for high-quality experiences as a driving force for innovation, envisioning Indonesia as a future hub in the Indo-Pacific region. The project involves seven separate cable systems, integrating with relevant countries and systems, ensuring efficient cost structures and faster implementation based on four fundamental principles: DC to DC Access, Ultra-Low Latency, Different Landings, and Unique Routes.
The ICE IV project symbolizes a significant advancement in global connectivity, enhancing the digital infrastructure between Asia, India, the Middle East, and beyond. It promises not only to meet the growing demand for reliable, high-capacity connections but also to support the digital economy’s expansion, fostering closer ties and enabling new opportunities across continents.
The ICE IV Subsea Cable System Project marks a pivotal step in enhancing intra-Asian connectivity to India, the Middle East, and the global stage. Spearheaded by a consortium including Telecom Egypt, Telin, and a leading Indian operator, this initiative is poised to transform the connectivity landscape by 2027, offering a new, resilient route and redefining the digital bridge between continents.
Sources: Posmetro, Tempo (2024)
