Saudi telecommunications operator Mobily has unveiled plans for a new digital transit route connecting Asia, Europe and Africa through Saudi Arabia.
The company announced the initiative at the Submarine Networks World conference in Singapore, where its Chief of Wholesale, Adel Alaskah, outlined plans to combine subsea cable landings with terrestrial fibre links across Saudi Arabia.
The network is designed to provide telecommunications operators with an alternative route for moving data between East Asia and Western markets, while reducing reliance on congested traditional pathways.
Mobily’s network will use Saudi Arabia’s strategic position between the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, with terrestrial fibre connecting its eastern and western coastlines.
According to the company, subsea cable landings will connect directly with data centres and cloud facilities, allowing traffic to link with cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The operator is targeting growing demand for connectivity between Asian markets, including Singapore and Hong Kong, and major European data and business hubs.
Mobily said the route could also help telecommunications operators reduce their exposure to disruptions caused by subsea cable cuts and other risks along existing international routes.
The company is competing with other Gulf telecommunications operators and international cable consortia for enterprise and hyperscale cloud traffic moving between Asia and Europe.
See more: CBN Rule Could Make Nigeria Africa’s Data Centre Hub
The expansion comes as cloud providers and technology companies increase investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, creating greater demand for high-capacity and diverse international connectivity routes.
Mobily said it plans to market capacity on the new network to international telecommunications operators and cable consortium members involved in future cable projects across the Indian Ocean region.
The company’s wholesale team is also expected to hold discussions with Asian network operators on potential interconnection agreements through the end of 2026.
Mobily said the new route would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role as a digital connectivity bridge between Asia, Europe and Africa.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
