The Tenerife Cabildo is set to invest €42.8 million in the development of a new submarine cable system that could provide a new fibre optic connection to all the islands. CanaLink, an island public company linked to the Institute of Renewable Energies Technology (ITER), has launched a tender for this strategic telecommunications project in the Archipelago.
The President of the Island’s Authority, Rosa Dávila, stated that “this is a strategic project driven from Tenerife for Canary Islands that will not only modernize and expand the telecommunications network in the islands, but also position us at the forefront of global technological infrastructure. It is a fundamental step to ensure that the Canary Islands have the necessary infrastructure for their future development, facilitating connectivity and boosting the economic and social growth of our islands.”
Dávila highlights the involvement of all the Island’s Authorities, recognizing the crucial importance of these infrastructures for their territories. “From the beginning, they have engaged their technical teams to optimize and find synergies, ensuring a historical and efficient deployment for the Canary Islands. This interisland collaboration reinforces the joint commitment to modernize and enhance digital connectivity, consolidating a robust and advanced network that will benefit the entire region.”
On the other hand, the Island’s Councillor for Innovation, Research, and Development, Juan José Martínez, explains that with the new submarine cable system, “we reaffirm the commitment of the Tenerife Cabildo to innovation and sustainable development, ensuring that the Canary Islands remain a strategic point in the global telecommunications network.”
The project has direct subsidies from the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility mechanism, which has identified these initiatives as suitable for financing, granting up to 70% of the investment in some cases. The deployment, which will integrate both the submarine part and land extensions, is included in the current tender with one of the main project allocations, which will be carried out in three main phases: marine survey, cable manufacturing, and cable deployment.
For the marine survey, specialized boats will be used to ensure a detailed and precise mapping of the submarine routes. In addition, the design and manufacturing of a cable specially adapted to the unique characteristics of the seabeds of the Canary Islands and the previously established final routes will be carried out. Finally, a deployment vessel will lay the cable between the islands, establishing between 7 and 11 interisland connections.
CanaLink, recognized as the leader in deploying telecommunications infrastructures in the region, will be responsible for supervising and executing the project. The new submarine cable system is the first major upgrade of the interisland network in over a decade and aims to modernize the existing infrastructure between Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, whose current cables are over 20 and 30 years old, respectively.
Moreover, the tender includes, as an optional contract, the deployment of a cable system in the western province connecting Tenerife with El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma. In this regard, Juan José Martínez points out that “if the entire project is successfully implemented, all the islands would be provided with a cutting-edge connection simultaneously, something essential in the digital age.”
