Vodafone to Build Black Sea Submarine CableVodafone Group and Vodafone Ukraine To Build New Submarine Cable System Across Black SeaThe Kardesa submarine cable system will connect Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine.Vodafone Group and Vodafone Ukraine announced that they are set to soon begin construction of a new high-capacity submarine cable system in the Black Sea, which will create a modern digital corridor between Europe and Asia.
The Kardesa submarine cable system plans to have landing points in Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine, increasing the diversity of digital routes through the region. Kardesa will improve internet reliability and speed for customers in the countries where it lands and spur inward investment into their digital economies. The first cable landing – in Bulgaria – will be in 2027, followed by landings in Turkey, Georgia and Ukraine. Work in Ukraine will take place only in internationally recognised safe zones. Xtera has been contracted to manage and deliver the project, which will cost over €100 million to fully build and install. The Kardesa cable system will add over 500 terabits per second of internet capacity through the Black Sea region. The demand globally for new internet traffic routes is growing exponentially: there are 5.8 billion mobile users worldwide, 80% of whom own smartphones.2 The number of mobile users is expected to grow by 12% by 2030 and the growing usage of 5G, AI, streaming services and the Internet of Things will further increase the demand for internet capacity. Submarine cable systems are estimated to carry 97%-98% of international internet traffic3, and every new route is critical to the digital economy. Source: Vodafone Group and Vodafone Ukraine media announcement | |
