Sparkle and Turkcell Sign Agreement for Submarine Cable in Mediterranean

By Agenzia Nova
March 6, 2025

The Memorandum envisages the construction of a 4.000-kilometer diversified route to connect Turkey to the European telecommunications ecosystem through the construction of a state-of-the-art submarine cable between Izmir and Chania

Sparkle, Italy’s leading international service provider and a leading global operator, and Turkcell, Turkey’s leading communications and technology company, announced during MWC 2025 in Barcelona the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a submarine cable solution in the Mediterranean. This is an exclusive collaboration – a press release states – that leverages the strengths of the two companies to offer uninterrupted and high-quality Internet services, strengthening their strategic position and improving connectivity in the region. The Memorandum envisages the construction of a 4.000-kilometer diversified route to connect Turkey to the European telecom ecosystem through the implementation of a state-of-the-art submarine cable between Izmir and Chania, capable of carrying over 25 Tbps per fiber pair, using Sparkle’s BlueMed cable system to further extend the connection between Chania and the main Points of Presence in Milan.

“We are very satisfied with this agreement with Turkcell which confirms Sparkle's commitment to strengthening connectivity in the Mediterranean basin”, commented Enrico Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle. “With a unique low-latency path between Izmir and Chania, integrated with BlueMed, we are creating a new alternative digital corridor for communications between Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This collaboration also fits into the development of our GreenMed project, which will further stimulate digital acceleration across the region and beyond”.

Ali Taha Koc, CEO of Turkcell, noting that this important project will be completed and operational within a few years, said: “This submarine cable solution, with its impressive capacity between Izmir and Chania and a total distance of 4.000 kilometers, offers a viable alternative to existing routes, increasing geographic redundancy and ensuring that international data connectivity remains continuous even in the event of disruptions along traditional routes. This project not only strengthens the resilience of the global data infrastructure, but also provides a solid option for hyperscalers and content providers seeking reliable and secure connectivity between the East and the West. In a world where the demand for seamless and high-capacity Internet connectivity is ever-increasing, this project plays a crucial role in strengthening the stability of international communications.”

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