The Government of Tenerife is set to invest around 42.8 million euros in the development of an underwater cable network that would offer a new fibre optic link to all the Isles, enhancing their telecommunications infrastructure. The state-owned corporation Canalink, associated with the Renewable Energy Technology Institute (ITER), has announced a bidding process for this vital initiative. This project marks the first significant upgrade of the inter-island grid in over a decade, entailing the refurbishment of current facilities connecting Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, all of which are more than two to three decades old.
Moreover, the bidding process also includes an optional agreement for laying a cable system in the western province, connecting Tenerife with El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma. The project is slated to progress through three key phases – marine survey, cable fabrication, and cable deployment – with direct funding from the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility programme, which may cover up to 70% of the costs in some instances. The deployment plan, which encompasses both underwater segments and land extensions, is highlighted as a primary component in the ongoing tender process.
Island president, Rosa Dávila, emphasises that “this is a Tenerife-led initiative for the Canary Isles that will not only modernise and broaden the Isles’ telecommunications grid but also position us as leaders in global technological infrastructure.”
Specialised vessels will be employed for the marine survey to ensure meticulous and accurate mapping of the underwater paths, in addition to designing and producing a cable tailored to the distinctive traits of the Canarian seabed and the final predefined routes. The final phase will involve a deployment ship laying the cable between the Isles, establishing between 7 and 11 inter-island links.
