Retelit, Italy’s leading business-to-business (B2B) telecom operator, has officially presented the results of the feasibility study for the Magna Grecia Cable project, an ambitious submarine cable system that aims to connect Taranto, Italy, with Plataria, Greece, through the Ionian Sea.
Spanning approximately 323.5 kilometers, the new cross-border infrastructure will link two strategic Mediterranean points, fostering the digital transformation of territories, businesses, and cities.
Developed through rigorous technical and strategic analysis, the study outlined a resilient, low-risk route and carefully assessed environmental conditions, sustainability, required permits, and cable construction technologies.
The project is embedded in Retelit’s broader strategic vision to solidify Italy’s role as the Mediterranean’s digital hub and contribute to the development of a connected, sustainable, and technologically advanced European ecosystem.
It also aligns with EU ambitions to enhance digital sovereignty, bridge infrastructure gaps in underdeveloped areas, and prepare for a future European quantum network.
Diego Teot, Director of Wholesale Sales at Retelit, emphasized the project’s transformative impact: The Magna Grecia Cable project represents a strategic lever for the development of new economic and digital opportunities in the Mediterranean region. Creating a direct connection between Italy and Greece will enable new international traffic flows, strengthen regional competitiveness, and attract investment in high-value digital infrastructure.
Taranto was chosen as Italy’s landing point with the active involvement of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT), which even issued a letter of support to facilitate project approvals. Despite its strategic position at the intersection of East-West and North-South Mediterranean routes, Taranto has historically lacked major cable landings due to economic barriers. However, its proximity to Bari, home to Retelit’s AAE-1 landing station, adds value to the area’s digital infrastructure.
Patrizia Catenacci, Director General for Digital and Telecommunications at MIMIT, highlighted the broader significance of such initiatives for European digital networks:
Submarine cables are central to the security and efficiency of digital services, crucial for economic and technological development. Projects like this strengthen Italy’s role in the Mediterranean and European networks.
On the Greek side, Plataria, near Igoumenitsa, already hosts a landing point, easing the authorization process and providing access to national fiber networks with expansion possibilities toward Thessaloniki, Athens, and the Balkans. The route design and seabed configuration were optimized to minimize environmental impact and avoid marine protected areas.
Both sites are also located near existing electrical infrastructure, enhancing future integration with data centers and key European digital nodes.
Rondolfo Sardone, Scientific Director of the CALLIOPE project, underscored the innovative potential of such infrastructure for regional development:
Taranto, a strategic hub of the Mediterranean, is at the center of a major growth and regeneration challenge. Innovation is driving the Just Transition in the Ionian region, fostering collaborations that transform research into impactful initiatives.
The project received support from the Municipality of Taranto, the Italian Government, and EU co-funding through the CEF-DIG-2023-GATEWAYS program, coordinated by HaDEA, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. The initial investment is estimated to be a minimum of EUR 30 million, with next steps currently under evaluation as the project moves toward implementation.
