Atlantic-Mediterranean Data Gateway (ATMED-DG)
This project consists in adding a main cable running between Lisbon (Portugal) to Mazara del Vallo (Italy), connecting landing sites along the way in Zahara de los Atunes, Torreguadiaro and Barcelona (Spain), and Marseille (France).
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Locations |
Portugal – Lisbon Spain – Zahara de los Atunes, Torreguadiaro, Barcelona France – Marseille Italy – Mazara del Vallo |
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Cable length |
3,889 km |
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Project start - end date (duration) |
(36 months) |
What will it provide?
The project will improve intra-connectivity within and between EU Member States and have significant impacts on the competitiveness and readiness of the EU’s digital services ecosystem. It will increase the internet quality of the Mediterranean region and offer the capacity to connect with Africa, Asia and America. It will set the basis for a Mediterranean Data Gateway, contributing to the digital transformation of Europe to become a world-class data hub.
This project is followed up by Call 2 projects ATMED NADOR-DG and ATMED EAST-DG, covering different parts of the Mediterranean area and beyond.
How will it work?
The project will deploy a dark fibre pair linking all the South-West European Landing Sites, through the deployment of a single cable from Lisbon, in Portugal, one of the most important Atlantic Landing Ports, to Mazara del Vallo, in Italy, one of the most important cable landing points in the Mediterranean. Multiple branching units (BUs) along its pathway will connect further European Landing Sites to the main cable: Zahara de los Atunes, Torreguadiaro andBarcelona, in Spain; and Marseille in France.
It will provide an open access cable, offering fair and equal access to all operators.
The cable will provide 10 to 20 times more capacity than the current existing infrastructure with improved latency and service quality and have low maintenance costs.
How will it be built?
The ATMED-DG project will prepare the obtention of the permits and design of the infrastructures needed, taking into account all the environmental aspects in order to guarantee minimal impact and environmental compatibility based on the European framework and National regulations of each country.
It will focus on the design of a subsea cable route respecting all the environmental aspects and other seabed users. Once the cable engineering is completed, the project will start the system manufacturing at the same time as the construction of the different network elements and necessary infrastructures of the landing.
How is it financed?
The ATMED-DG project has a total budget of €15.6 million, of which €7.8 million funded under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital programme. This project has also received support from the European Investment Bank.
Who is involved?
The ATMED-DG project is being undertaken by AFR-IX telecom, as coordinator.
