Unitirreno Launches World’s First 24-Fiber Pair Repeatered Subsea Cable, Transforming Mediterranean Connectivity

Unitirreno Submarine Network S.p.A., Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), and Elettra Tlc S.p.A. announced that the Unitirreno submarine cable system is officially ready for service. The 1,156 kilometer system connects Sicily, Sardinia, Rome, and Genoa, delivering over 624 Tbps of total design capacity with ultralow latency and open, flexible service options—positioning Italy as a strategic digital hub bridging Europe with Africa and the Middle East.

Engineered and manufactured by ASN and installed by Elettra, Unitirreno is the world’s first operational 24 fiber pair repeatered submarine cable system, leveraging ASN’s XBU 24FP technology. The main Genoa–Mazara trunk provides 24 fiber pairs, each capable of over 26 Tbps. An additional 4 fiber pairs enhance the Sardinia–Rome link, while stateoftheart branching and fiber switching at Rome enable additional direct connectivity on Genoa–Rome and Mazara–Rome routes. Endtoend latency from Sicily to Northern Europe via Genoa/Milan is under 9 milliseconds. 

The system’s major routes—Mazara–Genoa, Mazara–Rome, Genoa–Rome, and Rome–Olbia—are fully operational. As an open cable system, Unitirreno offers dark fiber, spectrum, and scalable services, providing secure, diverse paths that bypass traditionally congested hubs and support the growing demands of cloud, AI, and dataintensive applications.

Renato Brunetti, CEO, Unitirreno, said, “This marks a major achievement for Unitirreno and a proud moment for Italy. The Unitirreno cable system is now operational, providing high-speed, low-latency connectivity that will unlock new opportunities for businesses and communities across the region. This is more than just infrastructure – it’s a foundation for innovation, collaboration, and growth.”

Alain Biston, President & CEO, Alcatel Submarine Networks, said, “This project marks a milestone for ASN and the subsea industry. As the world’s first operational 24-fiber pairs repeatered system, the Unitirreno cable redefines connectivity standards and meets the growing bandwidth demands driven by the rapid development of AI.”

Didier Dillard, CEO, Elettra, said “We are delighted to see this cable system now ready for service after its installation by our cableship Teliri. This milestone reflects the efforts and the dedication of Elettra teams at every stage of this major project.”

Key Features of the Unitirreno Submarine Cable System:

− 1,156 km network connecting Sicily, Sardinia, Rome, and Genoa.− Over 624 Tbps capacity with 24 fiber pairs and cutting-edge XBU 24FP technology.− Sub-9 ms latency from Sicily to Northern Europe via Genoa/Milan.− Open architecture offering dark fiber, spectrum, and scalable services.− Secure, redundant routes bypassing congested hubs.

Andrea Cornetti, President of Unitirreno, added, “This project demonstrates our commitment to creating a network that serves not just today’s demands but also anticipates the needs of tomorrow. By connecting key hubs with world-class performance, we’re enabling businesses and institutions to thrive in an increasingly connected world.”

Together, these capabilities establish a new, carrier‑neutral backbone for the Mediterranean that is purpose‑built for the next decade of cloud and AI growth.

About Unitirreno Submarine Network, S.p.A (Unitirreno)

Unitirreno is a partnership between the fund “Infrastrutture per la Crescita – Esg” established and managed by Azimut Libera Impresa Sgr, Unidata and industry experts to focus on enhancing Italy’s digital infrastructure foundation through deployment of a new subsea cable system in the Tyrrhenian Sea.  The 1,156 kilometer system, delivering over 624 Tbps of total design capacity, will connect Mazara del Vallo with Genoa and a junction point near Rome-Fiumicino. Unitirreno will offer a secure, ultra-low-latency alternative to Marseille as a cable landing hub in the Mediterranean and deliver strategic landing points for intercontinental cables from Asia, the Middle East and Africa in addition to a new route to major digital infrastructure hubs across Europe.

www.unitirreno.com

About Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN)

With over 160 years of history and 80% ownership by the French State Investment Agency (APE), Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) is a major player in the submarine cable industry, with more than 850,000 km of submerged optical systems deployed worldwide – equivalent to 21 times the Earth’s circumference. With its 3 factories located in Europe and an exclusive fleet of 7 cable-laying vessels spread across the globe, ASN develops, designs, deploys, and maintains turnkey submarine transmission systems for telecommunications operators, content & service providers (OTT), as well as offshore oil and gas applications. With a complete portfolio of services and a unique expertise, ASN meets specific and growing demands of its clients to deliver ever-increasing connectivity across the seas and oceans.

ASN is actively continuing its investment in the development of Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE). This focus on innovation and advancement in SLTE technology highlights ASN’s commitment to maintaining its position at the forefront of the subsea communications industry. By doing so, ASN ensures that its systems are equipped with the latest technological advancements, offering enhanced performance, reliability, and efficiency.

www.asn.com

About Elettra TlC S.p.A.

Elettra Tlc Spa is a company dedicated to the marine survey, marine installation and repairs of telecommunication submarine cables all around the world, operating a fleet of two cable ships and one survey vessel. Elettra Tlc is fully owned by Orange. Together with its sister company Orange Marine, it is a world leader in its sector of activity, representing 15% of the global cable ships fleet. It has installed more than 80 000 km of optical cables and is in charge of the maintenance of most of the submarine cables in service in the Mediterranean, Black and Red seas areas.

www.elettratlc.it