Digital submarine network in the Tyrrhenian Sea accelerates

A decisive step forward on the road to completion is the digital submarine infrastructure project being carried out by Unitirreno Submarine Network, the newco set up in 2022 by Unidata and Azimut's Ipcdi Fund (Fondo Infrastrutture per la Crescita ESG). This is the first Open Cable system with 24 pairs of fibre optics in the Mediterranean and according to the company's forecasts it should go into operation in the second quarter of 2025: the submarine infrastructure, which extends for 900 kilometres in the Tyrrhenian Sea, is the first of its kind to reach full use of fibre repeaters and cables.

"The new submarine cable system will enable Unitirreno to provide innovative submarine fibre optic technology within an open cable system structure, allowing customers to choose the technological solutions they prefer for individual fibre pairs," says Unitirreno president Andrea Cornetti. "The experience and technology brought by Alcatel Submarine Networks to the production process, combined with the marine capabilities related to surveying and installation of Elettra Tlc S.p.A, further reinforce Unitirreno's fundamental mission in providing much needed capacity for the Mediterranean region'.

In the meantime, the project, worth about 80 million investment, has obtained environmental permits in Mazara del Vallo (Trapani), Genoa and Rome-Fiumicino: Mazara del Vallo will be connected to Genoa with a junction point near Rome-Fiumicino. In concrete terms, this means that the submarine cable has obtained landfall permits which, explains Unidata and Unitirreno CEO Renato Brunetti, 'are not only essential to establish critical connection points within our submarine network, but also represent a significant milestone in our journey towards providing better regional connectivity to support evolving business requirements. In practice, these are permits that are considered essential to establish key connection points within the submarine cable network, ensuring seamless integration and operation. 'With these permits, the company has strategically positioned itself to allow potential customers to plan, as of now, to interconnect with the cable, in light of a precise definition of the connection point,' explain the company.

Meanwhile, system qualification has been completed. The Unitirreno submarine cable, equipped with a 24-pair fibre system, is the first of its kind in the Mediterranean region to reach the maximum capacity of submarine repeaters and fibre cables. Underway, under the leadership of Alcatel Submarine Networks (Asn), is the production of the Unitirreno cable system and associated equipment: this phase of the project is proceeding on schedule, the company assures, with meticulous attention to detail and the integration of state-of-the-art technologies that ensure optimal performance upon installation. "The Unitirreno submarine cable project is making a significant contribution to improving regional connectivity in the Mediterranean, leveraging our extensive deployment experience," emphasises Arturo Danesi, Coo of Unitirreno. "The Unitirreno project is a significant step forward in meeting the growing demand for reliable communications infrastructure connecting the Mediterranean region with the most important Internet exchange points in Europe.

On the other hand, the construction site for the datacenter that is to be built in Rome is still open: a new company (Unicenter) was to be set up, and there was talk of a further investment of some EUR 50 million. The company has not yet been set up, but it is expected to be completed by the end of the year.