Fibre in Gulf (FIG)

Overview

Fibre in Gulf (FIG) is a regional submarine cable with a total length of 1931 km. The cable is owned by Ooredoo and is set to be ready for service in 2027.

Route and Landings

• Al Hidd, Bahrain
• Bahrain (repeated)
• Al Faw, Iraq
• Iraq (repeated)
• Kuwait City, Kuwait
• Oman: Barka
• Qatar: Al Ghariya
• Saudi Arabia: Al Khobar, Abu Dhabi

Ownership and Operators

The cable is operated by Ooredoo.

Status and Timeline

Fibre in Gulf (FIG) is expected to be ready for service in 2027.

Strategic Context

Fibre in Gulf (FIG) connects several countries within the region, including Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This cable plays a role in enhancing communication infrastructure across these nations. Ooredoo is a leading telecommunications company based in Qatar, with operations spanning multiple Middle Eastern markets.

The corridor that FIG serves connects countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, which includes Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These nations are key players in the Middle East, with significant economic activities and growing digital needs. Iraq, despite its complex political situation, has been working to improve its telecommunications infrastructure to support economic development and regional integration. Kuwait is a major financial center in the Middle East, while Oman and Qatar have been investing heavily in digital infrastructure to support their growing economies.

Overall, the FIG cable is part of a broader effort by regional operators to enhance communication infrastructure, support economic growth, and meet the increasing demands for data transfer and internet services across the GCC nations. The strategic importance of this corridor lies in its potential to facilitate better connectivity between these countries, thereby fostering trade, investment, and collaboration within the region.