Subsea cables represent the foundation of the modern internet, carrying 99% of international network traffic. Their number has grown exponentially over the past decade, driven by the increasing global demand for connectivity. Growth is expected to continue in the coming years, creating a pressing need for diversified routes to ensure network resilience and redundancy.
With a proprietary fiber-optic backbone of over 600,000 km, 90% of which is submarine, Sparkle is a major global provider continuously evolving its network to expand capacity and create new ecosystems of connected players. Its infrastructure spans Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Americas, providing high-performance, secure connectivity for international customers and enabling the growth of digital economies worldwide. By combining strategic investments, advanced technology, and innovative partnerships, Sparkle is positioning itself as a key enabler of intercontinental connectivity.
Meeting the Market’s Demand for Diversity
Recent events have highlighted the importance of alternative pathways. Earlier this year, four cables were cut in the Gulf of Aden within hours and multiple cuts occurred in the Red Sea the previous year. These incidents demonstrate that network resilience requires more than increased capacity; it demands route diversity, redundancy, and robust monitoring systems.
Simply adding more capacity to existing paths is no longer sufficient; networks must be designed to be resilient, providing continuous connectivity and multiple alternative paths to maintain service even during disruptions or outages.
Projects such as the Blue & Raman Submarine Cable Systems exemplify this strategy of diversifying routes.
Blue & Raman Submarine Cable Systems: Reshaping Asia–Europe Connectivity
The Blue & Raman Submarine Cable Systems, developed with Google and other operators and co-funded with a contribution of EUR 37 million by the European Commission under the Global Gateway initiative, connects Italy and India, strengthening communications between Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Unlike traditional systems, Blue & Raman passes through the Strait of Messina and follows a new path through Israel and Jordan. The cable lands in Genoa, utilizing Sparkle’s Genoa Landing Platform, a scalable, plug-in infrastructure designed to host multiple cables while minimizing environmental and urban impact.
With this innovative path, Blue & Raman establishes a reliable, high-capacity route for international traffic flows in a strategically important region.
Expanding Connectivity: AAE-2
Building on this strategy, Sparkle participates in the Asia-Africa-Europe-2 (AAE-2) subsea cable project, in partnership with PCCW Global, Telecom Egypt, and Zain Omantel International (ZOI). AAE-2 will link Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy via secure terrestrial corridors across Thailand, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt. The system delivers a geographically diverse, high-capacity, low-latency route that supports cloud services, content delivery, and digital transformation initiatives across three continents, further strengthening the Europe–Asia corridor.
Security and Infrastructure Protection
In addition to route diversification, Sparkle invests in the protection of its infrastructure. Robust cybersecurity protocols safeguard systems and networks from potential threats. For physical protection, Sparkle has developed an agreement with the Italian Navy to monitor submarine cable routes and is collaborating with Fincantieri to develop submarine drones that patrol and maintain next-generation cables, enhancing rapid-response capability and operational reliability.
Sparkle’s Service Portfolio
Sparkle’s service portfolio is equally extensive: IP transit, capacity, multicloud, networking solutions, colocation, IoT connectivity, roaming, and voice are all delivered over a proprietary fiber backbone exceeding 600,000 km worldwide. This enables national and regional operators and ISPs to provide high-speed internet, cloud services, and a wide array of international solutions, seamlessly connecting Asia to the global network.
The Road Ahead
Sparkle’s investments in new submarine and terrestrial routes are designed to meet the growing demands of the digital economy. Projects such as Blue & Raman, BlueMed, and AAE-2 deliver not only capacity but also trust, diversity, and resilience by design. These initiatives position Sparkle as a strategic partner for enterprises, cloud providers, and carriers seeking reliable, high-performance intercontinental connectivity.
For those looking to learn more about Sparkle’s network and services, the company will be present at Submarine Networks World 2025 in Singapore on September 24–25, where its team will share insights into the future of subsea connectivity, route diversification, and network security innovation.
