Blue

Overview

The Blue submarine cable is an intercontinental cable system spanning a total length of 5055 km. It connects six countries: Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, and Jordan.

Route and Landings

• Cyprus (Yeroskipos)
• Cyprus
• France (Bastia)
• France (Marseille)
• Greece (Chania)
• Israel (Tel Aviv)
• Italy (Genoa)
• Italy (Golfo Aranci)
• Italy (Palermo)
• Italy (Rome)
• Jordan (Aqaba)

Ownership and Operators

The Blue cable is owned by a consortium consisting of Google, Sparkle, and Zain Omantel International.

Status and Timeline

The Ready for Service (RFS) year for the Blue cable is 2023. The status of the cable is unknown as of now.

Strategic Context

The Blue submarine cable forms part of the Europe-Middle East corridor, which runs through the Mediterranean and Red Sea. This route is one of the most strategically important and vulnerable cable routes on Earth, connecting key economic and political centers across these regions. Google, a leading global technology company, has been expanding its presence in the Middle East and Europe to support growing internet traffic demands. Zain Omantel International, part of the Zain Group—a major telecommunications provider in the Middle East and Central Asia—aims to enhance connectivity across its regional footprint. France, with its extensive fiber-optic network, enhances the reliability of connections to other European markets. Greece and Italy, both major players in Mediterranean telecommunications, contribute to the robustness of this route. Israel and Jordan, while smaller participants, add important regional connectivity.