The Sparkle Group, Italy’s largest international telecommunications provider, and Cyta announced on 29 October the landing of the BlueMed submarine cable at Cyta’s station in Geroskipou- a development that marks a new chapter in Cyprus’ connectivity with the Mediterranean and beyond.
What is BlueMed
BlueMed is Sparkle’s new fibre-optic submarine cable system, designed to link Italy with several Mediterranean countries and extend as far as Jordan. It forms part of the wider Blue & Raman Submarine Cable Systems project, developed in partnership with Google and multiple international operators. The system stretches from the Mediterranean to the Middle East and India, ultimately reaching Mumbai.
With a high capacity exceeding 25 Tbps per fibre pair, BlueMed provides ultra-fast, low-latency data transfer between Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Why it matters for Cyprus
The Geroskipou landing gives Sparkle a strategic presence in Cyprus, while Cyta gains access to upgraded international infrastructure. The move significantly enhances the island’s connectivity with Greece, Italy, Central Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, reinforcing its position as a regional telecommunications hub and strengthening the local digital ecosystem.
Statements from Sparkle and Cyta
Sparkle CEO Enrico Bagnasco described the BlueMed landing as “an important milestone for a project that connects three continents and demonstrates the power of technological collaboration.”
Cyta’s Chief Technology Officer Giorgos Malikkidis said the connection “significantly upgrades Cyprus’ digital footprint,” while Commercial Director Giorgos Metzakis called it “a decisive step in strengthening the country’s international connectivity.”
Funding and strategic importance
BlueMed has received funding from the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility, confirming the EU’s commitment to developing critical digital infrastructure and secure networks across the continent.
Also read: Cyprus calls for stronger UN framework to protect journalists
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