Cables in Southern Europe Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is connected to Southern Europe via the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, with future connectivity enhancements planned through the Via Africa cable project.Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) CableThe ACE cable is a 17,000 km optical-fiber submarine system linking France, Portugal, and the Canary Islands to the entire Atlantic coast of West Africa, including Guinea-Bissau . It became operational in 2012 and is managed by a consortium of 20 telecom operators . The cable lands at Suro in Guinea-Bissau, providing the country with its first direct international fiber connection to Europe, bypassing the need to transit through neighboring countries . ACE has a maximum capacity of 20 Tbit/s, supporting high-speed internet and telecommunications for over 450 million people along its route . The cable runs at depths of around 6,000 meters and is manufactured by Alcatel Submarine Networks, with deployment handled by ships from ASN and Orange Marine . Its landing points in Southern Europe include Penmarch in France, Carcavelos in Portugal, and Granadilla de Abona in the Canary Islands, ensuring robust connectivity between Europe and West Africa .Via Africa Cable ProjectA new initiative, the Via Africa submarine cable, was launched in 2026 to further strengthen Europe–Africa connectivity . This project will provide an alternative route along the Atlantic coast, enhancing diversity and resilience of international connectivity. Planned landing points in Southern Europe include the UK, France, and Portugal, with extensions along the West African coast, potentially benefiting countries like Guinea-Bissau in the future . The project is managed as a consortium, allowing participating operators to co-invest and govern the system, similar to the ACE model .SummaryCurrently, Guinea-Bissau's international connectivity to Southern Europe is primarily through the ACE cable, linking it directly to France, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. The Via Africa project promises additional capacity and route diversity, which will further improve resilience and connectivity for Guinea-Bissau and other West African nations. These submarine cables are critical for internet, telecommunications, and economic development in the region .