Malta-Italy Interconnector

Overview

The Malta-Italy Interconnector is a short intra-Mediterranean submarine cable system spanning 95 km between Malta and Italy. Owned entirely by the Government of Malta, it provides a dedicated link between the two countries across a narrow stretch of the central Mediterranean. At 95 km, it is one of the shorter systems in this corridor, reflecting the relatively close proximity of the two landmasses it connects.

Route and Landings

In Italy, the cable lands at Marina di Ragusa, on the southern coast of Sicily. In Malta, the cable lands at Bahar ic-Caghaq, on the northeastern coast of the Maltese mainland. These two landing points anchor the system at either end of its 95 km span.

Ownership and Operators

The Malta-Italy Interconnector is owned solely by the Government of Malta. As a state-owned asset, it represents a direct national investment in securing dedicated submarine cable connectivity for Malta.

Status and Timeline

The cable entered service in 2015 and has been operational for approximately 11 years. No end-of-service date has been announced.

Regional Context

The Italy–Malta corridor is served by a range of submarine cables of widely varying scale. Among the systems sharing these two countries, the Malta-Italy Interconnector is notably compact — longer than only around 4% of the other cables touching the same corridor. Larger international systems such as the Medusa Submarine Cable System, which spans 8,760 km and is expected to be ready for service in 2026, and long-haul routes including 2Africa and PEACE Cable, serve this corridor as part of much broader intercontinental networks. The Malta-Italy Interconnector occupies a distinct position as a short, dedicated bilateral link rather than a transit system.

Performance measurements over the last 60 days, based on 39 ping tests, record an average round-trip latency of 68.9 ms, with a best observed result of 39.6 ms.

Strategic Role

As a 95 km government-owned cable connecting Malta directly to the Italian coast at Marina di Ragusa, the Malta-Italy Interconnector provides Malta with a dedicated bilateral submarine connection independent of the wider international cable systems that also land in these two countries. Malta hosts seven submarine cables across six landing points, and this system contributes a nationally controlled link within that broader infrastructure landscape.