Fibre in Gulf (FIG): A regional submarine cable connecting the Gulf states
The Fibre in Gulf (FIG) cable is a submarine telecommunications system spanning 1931 kilometers, designed to connect seven Gulf countries: the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait. Owned by Ooredoo, the cable is listed as in service, though its ready-for-service (RFS) year is recorded as 2027 in the GeoCables database. FIG enhances regional connectivity and provides additional redundancy within a heavily trafficked telecommunications corridor.
What makes FIG particularly interesting is the uncertainty surrounding its technical specifications. Publicly available information does not disclose the cable's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology, leaving analysts reliant on industry context and speculation. Additionally, the cable operates in a region already served by numerous other systems, raising questions about its specific role and advantages in this competitive environment.
Quick facts
| Length | 1931 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2027 (GeoCables database; conflicting industry sources not surfaced) |
| Owner | Ooredoo |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Abu Dhabi (UAE), Al Faw (Iraq), Al Ghariya (Qatar), Al Hidd (Bahrain), Al Khobar (Saudi Arabia), Barka (Oman), Kuwait City (Kuwait) |
Route
The Fibre in Gulf cable connects seven landing points across the Gulf region:
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Al Faw, Iraq
- Al Ghariya, Qatar
- Al Hidd, Bahrain
- Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
- Barka, Oman
- Kuwait City, Kuwait
These locations form a strategic corridor, linking major economic and population centers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Iraq. The route is also notable for its overlap with other submarine cables, such as
2Africa,
FALCON, and
Gulf Bridge International Cable System/Middle East North Africa Cable System (GBICS/MENA), which provide alternative paths in case of disruptions.
Why it was built and what it carries
The FIG cable was likely constructed to address the growing demand for high-speed internet and data transmission in the Gulf region, driven by increasing digitization, cloud services, and content delivery requirements. It also serves as a redundancy measure to ensure uninterrupted connectivity in a region prone to cable cuts due to fishing, anchoring, and other maritime activities.
Although specific details about the cable's design capacity and technology are not publicly disclosed, it is reasonable to assume that FIG supports high-capacity data traffic typical of modern submarine systems. Its ownership by Ooredoo suggests that it plays a role in the operator's regional and international connectivity strategy.
History: what can be established
The GeoCables database lists the FIG cable's ready-for-service year as 2027, though no conflicting industry sources have been surfaced to suggest an alternative date. Its status as "in service" raises the possibility that the cable may already be operational, or that the RFS year reflects an anticipated upgrade or expansion. Without further documentation from Ooredoo or other stakeholders, the timeline remains unclear.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available information does not disclose FIG's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to definitively assess the cable's performance or technical specifications. However, given its regional scope, the cable likely employs industry-standard technologies such as dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) to maximize data throughput.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency for the FIG cable is approximately 9.5 milliseconds over its 1931 km length, with a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor of 18.9 milliseconds. Real-world latency measurements, however, are influenced by additional factors such as terrestrial network routing, terminal equipment, and traffic congestion.
GeoCables' live measurements for the Kuwait City to Barka segment show a minimum latency of 0.5 milliseconds and an average of 0.8 milliseconds, which are far below the physical floor. These values are measurement artifacts, likely caused by rate-limited ICMP replies from intermediate routers, and should not be interpreted as actual cable performance. Measurements in the opposite direction (Barka to Kuwait City) show a minimum latency of 240.1 milliseconds and an average of 281.8 milliseconds, reflecting the full internet path rather than the cable itself.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
The Gulf region is well-served by other submarine cables, providing redundancy in case of disruptions to FIG. At each landing point, FIG overlaps with multiple systems:
- Abu Dhabi: 2Africa, Qatar-U.A.E. Submarine Cable System, SeaMeWe-6
- Al Faw: 2Africa, FALCON, GBICS/MENA
- Al Ghariya: GBICS/MENA
- Al Hidd: GBICS/MENA
- Al Khobar: 2Africa, FALCON, GBICS/MENA, Tata TGN-Gulf
- Barka: 2Africa, Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG), Europe India Gateway (EIG), Oman Australia Cable (OAC), OMRAN/EPEG, POI Network, Raman
- Kuwait City: 2Africa, Fiber Optic Gulf (FOG), GBICS/MENA, Kuwait-Iran
In the event of a cable fault, traffic can be rerouted through these alternative systems, though repair logistics for submarine cables often involve lengthy processes such as fault localization, cable retrieval, and splicing.
Bottom line
- Fibre in Gulf (FIG) spans 1931 km and connects seven Gulf countries.
- Owned by Ooredoo, it is listed as in service, with a recorded RFS year of 2027.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not disclosed.
- Computed latency is approximately 9.5 ms one-way, though real-world measurements reflect the full internet path.
- Redundancy is provided by numerous overlapping cables in the region.