Canalink to Invest €70 Million in Submarine Cables to Boost Tenerife's Connectivity and Telecommunications Hub Status
Canalink plans a nearly 70 million euro investment next year, a 60% increase, to fund four new submarine cable projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and positioning Tenerife as a telecommunications hub linking Europe and Africa.
Canalink, a public company owned by the Cabildo de Tenerife, plans to invest nearly 70 million euros next year. This represents a 60% increase in its investment plan and will fund four new submarine cable projects. The goal is to improve and expand connectivity, positioning the island as a major international telecommunications hub linking Europe and Africa.
The announcement was made by Cabildo President Rosa Dávila, Innovation Councilor Juan José Martínez, Canalink CEO Rubén Molowny, and ITER Director Carlos Suárez.
Rubén Molowny explained the projects in detail. One, named "Ring," has a total budget of 35 million euros, with 23 million coming from European funds. This project will connect Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. It will provide Fuerteventura and Lanzarote with a new, redundant submarine cable system, ensuring more secure, stable, and competitive connectivity. Crucially, it aims to reduce reliance on the current dominant operator, promoting fair competition.
A related project will establish a connection to the southeast of Fuerteventura, specifically the Costa Calma area. This initiative has secured a 5 million euro subsidy from the Spanish state.
Furthermore, the projects will support the ongoing effort to connect the African continent with Europe via the Canary Islands. Molowny stated that a branch will be proposed, extending from the Fuerteventura-Lanzarote connection to Tarfaya in Morocco. This third project is budgeted at 12 million euros, with 7 million in European funding.
The final project, costing over 18 million euros (with 13 million from the European Commission), aims to reduce the digital isolation of El Hierro. This will be achieved by installing a new, alternative submarine cable to enhance the island's connectivity with the rest of the archipelago and Europe.
Regarding the timeline, Canalink CEO Rubén Molowny indicated that the laying of the submarine cable from Gran Canaria to the eastern islands is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and will take approximately three months. During this same period, the branches to southeast Fuerteventura and Tarfaya will also be deployed.
Following this, work will commence on the submarine cable connecting Tenerife and El Hierro. Molowny anticipates that all projects will be completed by the end of 2026, assuming no unforeseen issues arise.
The insular president emphasized that Canalink's strategy over the past 15 years has been instrumental in diversifying the island's economy, boosting competitiveness, and establishing Tenerife as an international telecommunications hub. This has strengthened connectivity for Tenerife and the wider Canary Islands, as well as fostering the digital economy and innovation.
Juan José Martínez highlighted that robust connectivity is essential for regional development and for attracting technological investment. He also mentioned a recent agreement signed with Mauritania's main telecommunications operator.
Carlos Suárez added that advancements in new technologies will allow these submarine cables to be utilized for seismic detection and biodiversity studies, with a project in this area set to launch in 2026.