TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex: A Mediterranean and Eurasian Submarine Cable
The TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex submarine cable system is a 3634-kilometer fiber-optic network connecting Egypt, Algeria, France, and Cyprus. Operational since 2011, according to GeoCables records, it is owned by a consortium including Algerie Telecom, Cyta, PCCW, SEACOM, Tata Communications, and Telecom Egypt. The cable is listed as in service, but several technical details such as design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier remain undisclosed in public sources.
This cable is notable for its strategic role in linking North Africa, Europe, and the eastern Mediterranean. However, uncertainties regarding its design capacity and technology, coupled with its shared landing points with numerous other cables, raise questions about its specific contribution to the region's connectivity.
Quick facts
| Length | 3634 km |
| Ready-for-Service (RFS) Year | 2011 (GeoCables database; conflicting industry sources unknown) |
| Owners | Algerie Telecom, Cyta, PCCW, SEACOM, Tata Communications, Telecom Egypt |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Abu Talat (Egypt), Annaba (Algeria), Marseille (France), Pentaskhinos (Cyprus) |
🗺 Show TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex on the interactive cable map
Route
The cable system connects four landing points across the Mediterranean and Eurasian regions:
- **Abu Talat, Egypt:** A major telecommunications hub on Egypt's northern coast, hosting several other cables including AAE-1, EIG, MENA Cable System,
PEACE Cable, and
SeaMeWe-5.
- **Annaba, Algeria:** A coastal city in northeastern Algeria, also served by the
Med Cable Network and
SeaMeWe-4.
- **Marseille, France:** One of the most critical submarine cable landing stations in Europe, with connections to over a dozen cables, including
2Africa,
Africa-1,
IMEWE, and
SeaMeWe-6.
- **Pentaskhinos, Cyprus:** A landing point for regional cables such as
CADMOS, MedNautilus, and
UGARIT.
The route traverses the Mediterranean Sea, providing connectivity between North Africa, Europe, and the eastern Mediterranean.
Why it was built and what it carries
The TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex cable was constructed to enhance regional connectivity and provide additional capacity for data traffic between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Its ownership by multiple operators suggests it serves diverse commercial interests, from local telecommunications in Algeria and Egypt to international data transit managed by Tata Communications and PCCW.
While specific data on its design capacity is not publicly disclosed, the cable likely supports high-speed internet, enterprise services, and wholesale bandwidth for carriers operating in the region.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate the cable became ready for service in 2011. No conflicting dates have surfaced in industry sources, but the absence of detailed public documentation limits the ability to confirm this definitively. The consortium ownership structure reflects the collaborative approach often required for submarine cables spanning multiple countries.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available sources do not disclose the cable's design capacity, fiber pair count, or supplier. Without operator documentation, attributing specific figures would be speculative. The cable's technological configuration, such as the use of repeaters or advanced modulation formats, also remains unknown.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency for light propagation over the cable's wet segment is approximately 17.8 milliseconds one-way, or 35.6 milliseconds round-trip. Real-world latency measurements, however, are higher due to additional factors such as land-based connections, routing, and terminal equipment delays. For example:
- **Pentaskhinos to Marseille:** Minimum measured latency is 42.2 ms, with an average of 88.1 ms over 172 checks.
- **Odessa to Marseille:** Minimum latency is 49.1 ms, with an average of 50.4 ms over 43 checks.
These measurements reflect the full internet path rather than the cable itself, incorporating terrestrial and network routing delays.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
The TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex cable shares landing points with numerous other systems, offering redundancy in case of outages. For example:
- **Abu Talat:** Connected to AAE-1, EIG, MENA Cable System, PEACE Cable, and SeaMeWe-5.
- **Annaba:** Linked to Med Cable Network and SeaMeWe-4.
- **Marseille:** Hosts connections to over a dozen cables, including 2Africa, IMEWE, and SeaMeWe-6.
- **Pentaskhinos:** Shares landing facilities with CADMOS, MedNautilus, and UGARIT.
Repair logistics for submarine cables typically involve specialized vessels equipped to locate and mend faults, but specific details for this cable are not documented.
Bottom line
- The TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medex cable spans 3634 km and connects Egypt, Algeria, France, and Cyprus.
- Operational since 2011, according to GeoCables records, with no conflicting dates reported.
- Owned by Algerie Telecom, Cyta, PCCW, SEACOM, Tata Communications, and Telecom Egypt.
- Technical specifications such as design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier are not publicly disclosed.
- Latency measurements indicate higher real-world delays due to terrestrial routing and network factors.
- Redundancy is supported by shared landing points with numerous other cables in the region.