True arteries of the global digital economy, submarine cables today transport more than 95% of international Internet traffic. In Tunisia, their deployment and maintenance are the responsibility of a key player: Tunisie Telecom, which ensures the continuity, stability and independence of national connectivity, both to the interior of the country and to the rest of the world.
From historic beginnings to network modernization
SEA-ME-WE 1, commissioned in 1985, marked the first major turning point in the history of Tunisian telecommunications. This cable connecting Tunisia to global networks via the Mediterranean, Europe and Asia, opened the way to a new era of digital exchanges.
In the 1990s, two new projects consolidated this progress: SEA-ME-WE 2 (1992), which offered the first direct high-speed connection with Europe and the Middle East, and KELTRA (1995), the country’s first fiber optic cable, capable of transmitting considerable volumes of data at high speed. These two infrastructures constituted the basis of the modernization of the Tunisian digital network.
An opening to the world thanks to SEA-ME-WE 4 and Hannibal
Tunisia’s integration into the SEA-ME-WE 4 international network in 2005 strengthened the country’s role on the global telecommunications map, connecting it directly to several strategic data centers in Europe and Asia.
Four years later, in 2009, Tunisie Telecom commissioned its own cable, Hannibal, connecting Kélibia to Italy. This infrastructure, entirely Tunisian, has considerably increased the capacity of international connectivity and improved the quality and speed of the Internet throughout the territory.
Local connections for a more connected country
On a national level, the historic operator has also invested in local submarine connections, such as the El Jorf – Djerba cable, which connects the island to the continent. This project made it possible to secure Internet and telephone services in the south-east of the country and to ensure better coverage for remote areas, illustrating Tunisie Telecom’s desire to bring technology closer to all citizens.
The foundation of digital transformation
Today, thanks to its integrated network of submarine cables and optical fiber, Tunisie Telecom has established itself as a central player in the country’s digital transformation. These infrastructures support not only high-speed Internet, but also data centers, cloud computing services and digital applications in strategic sectors such as education, health or e-commerce.
Submarine cables are no longer just technical infrastructure: they embody the digital sovereignty and economic resilience of Tunisia, in an increasingly interconnected world.
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