Bulgaria’s Novatel, Bulgartransgaz Join Black Sea Submarine Cable Project
By Radina Veleva, SeeNews
January 28, 2026
January 28 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian ICT infrastructure company Novatel and state-owned gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to join Kardesa – a project for an optical submarine cable system across the Black Sea, Bulgartransgaz said on Wednesday.
The 100 million euro ($119.7 million) Kardesa project envisages the construction of an optical submarine cable between Georgia and Bulgaria, with a planned extension to Turkey and later on, to Ukraine, Bulgartransgaz said in a press release. The underwater telecommunications system will be built by U.S.-based company Xtera.
Under the MoU, Novatel, part of Deutsche Telekom Group, will build and operate the digital infrastructure in the Bulgarian seaside town of Aheloy – a landing point for the cable, as well as two independent optical routes to Sofia, while Bulgartransgaz will participate with already existing assets along the planned route of the cable.
The parties will aim to implement the project by mid-2027, contingent on obtaining the necessary permits.
“Today, telecommunications networks are no longer just economic infrastructure, but a key element of national security,” Bulgartrangaz executive director Vladimir Malinov said, as quoted in the press release. “The project will increase data diversification and sovereignty between Europe and Asia and contribute to enhancing cybersecurity in the energy sector by providing physically independent telecommunications connectivity for the secure operation of critical infrastructure.”
The new infrastructure will position Bulgaria as a digital hub, attract investment in data centers and AI infrastructure and create high-tech jobs, marking an important step towards Bulgaria's long-term competitiveness and active participation in the European digital and AI ecosystem, the company added.
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