Khaberni -
The Syrian Telecommunication Company signed an agreement with the Spanish company Medusa to land the first international submarine cable in the country, a move that will enhance the quality of communications and internet in the country.
The Syrian news agency "SANA" stated that the Syrian Telecommunication Company and Medusa of Spain signed the submarine cable landing agreement in Tartous.
Reuters quoted the Syrian official news channel today saying, "An agreement to land the first international submarine cable in Syria in the Tartous governorate was signed in the presence of the Minister of Communications and Technology, Abdulsalam Heikal, and the representative of the Spanish company Medusa, Norman Albee, alongside officials from the Latakia and Tartous governorates."
The website of Medusa Company mentioned that the submarine cable system aims to connect 12 countries in North Africa and Southern Europe.
It will also form a passage connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea.
According to previous statements by the Syrian Minister of Communications, the telecommunications sector has not seen real development in the past 15 years, confirming that the ministry is currently working on reforming the cellular sector and updating its services with a focus on improving the infrastructure which is fundamental for any digital advancement.
He explained that Syria deals with telecommunications companies in the region rather than directly with governments, and seeks to establish projects and partnerships with a group of global companies, noting that all telecommunications companies in the region have expressed their desire to invest in the Syrian market without exception.
After a civil war that lasted 14 years and decades of Western sanctions, Syria's infrastructure suffers from deficiencies including poor internet connectivity. Many users resort to expensive mobile internet services rather than wireless connections to carry out basic online tasks.
The new Syrian rulers aim to make rapid progress in improving public services following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December.
The minister pledged that the telecommunications sector in Syria will witness exceptional development in the coming period, although the current internet speed "is not in its best state" but "it far exceeds 1 megabit," indicating a gradual improvement in the service.
An agreement like landing the international submarine cable represents a strategic step toward improving the telecommunications and internet infrastructure in Syria, by directly connecting it to the global submarine cable network that connects Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Submarine cables are the primary means of transmitting internet data between countries, and landing them in Tartous will reduce Syria's dependence on intermediary countries, leading to faster and more stable internet service.
With a direct cable, Syria can achieve direct international connectivity without passing through other countries.
Investment opportunities and the digital economy improve, where fast and stable internet connection is an essential element for any digital or technological infrastructure.
A senior Syrian official informed Reuters last June that the government was conducting talks with regional telecommunications companies Zain, Etisalat, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), and Ooredoo for a project worth approximately 300 million dollars to develop the optical fiber communication network in Syria.
