AFR-IX telecom

AFR-IX telecom is a telecommunications infrastructure company associated with African internet exchange points and subsea connectivity. Its business is centered on improving international internet capacity between Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean through network infrastructure, cable landing facilities, points of presence, and partnerships with telecommunications operators and other connectivity providers. The company’s most prominent project is the Medusa Subsea Cable System, announced in January 2022. Medusa is planned as an approximately 8,700-kilometre submarine cable system with 24 fiber pairs and an estimated cost of €326 million. The project is designed to connect the Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and Greece. Its planned landing locations include Lisbon and Sines in Portugal; Barcelona, Torreguadiaro, Zahara, and Alacant in Spain; Tétouan and Nador in Morocco; Bizerte in Tunisia; Algiers and Collo in Algeria; Marseille in France; Mazara del Vallo in Italy; Yeroskipou in Cyprus; and Tympaki in Greece. Medusa reflects AFR-IX telecom’s role as a coordinator and infrastructure developer rather than a conventional consumer mobile or fixed-line brand. The system is intended to provide additional international capacity, improve route diversity, and support the expansion of broadband, cloud, data-center, enterprise, and mobile services in connected markets. The project has involved public-sector and industry cooperation, including European Investment Bank financing and agreements with national and international telecommunications companies. AFR-IX has also expanded its network presence in sub-Saharan Africa. It established a point of presence in Lagos in 2021 and another in Accra in December 2022. In 2023, it partnered with Libyan United International for Telecommunication and Technology to add planned Medusa landings in Tripoli and Benghazi. In January 2023, Colt Technology Services became the first terrestrial customer associated with AFR-IX’s Barcelona cable landing station. The company continued to develop Medusa’s regional reach in 2025. Tunisie Telecom entered a partnership connected with the system to support its 5G services in February, while AFR-IX telecom received a €14.3 million European Commission grant in March to extend the system into West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These developments position AFR-IX telecom as a specialist in cross-border digital infrastructure and as a contributor to the development of Africa-Europe connectivity corridors. Publicly available reference material does not establish its founding year, ownership structure, headquarters, listing status, or a complete roster of executives.

AFR-IX telecom is described in public reference material as an African internet exchange point and submarine telecommunications company. Its activities combine internet interconnection with the development and operation of international telecommunications infrastructure. Rather than being presented primarily as a consumer-facing mobile operator, the company’s documented work concerns wholesale connectivity, cable landing facilities, points of presence, and partnerships that enable other telecommunications and digital-service providers to exchange or transport traffic. A documented early expansion step was the establishment of a point of presence in Lagos in 2021. AFR-IX subsequently established a presence in Accra in December 2022, giving the company network locations in two important West African connectivity markets. These points of presence form part of the broader infrastructure model through which international capacity can be connected to local operators, enterprises, internet networks, and digital platforms. The company’s principal strategic project is the Medusa Subsea Cable System. AFR-IX announced the project in January 2022. The planned system is approximately 8,700 kilometres long and is designed with 24 fiber pairs. Its route connects Portugal and Spain with France, Italy, North Africa, Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt. The stated landing plan includes Lisbon and Sines in Portugal; Barcelona, Torreguadiaro, Zahara, and Alacant in Spain; Tétouan and Nador in Morocco; Bizerte in Tunisia; Algiers and Collo in Algeria; Marseille in France; Mazara del Vallo in Italy; Yeroskipou in Cyprus; and Tympaki in Greece. The reported cost is €326 million, with partial financing from the European Investment Bank. Medusa’s development has depended on cooperation with established telecommunications operators. In March 2022, Telecom Egypt reached an agreement with AFR-IX concerning infrastructure for the cable across Egypt. In 2023, AFR-IX worked with Libyan United International for Telecommunication and Technology to add cable landing locations in Tripoli and Benghazi. The same year, Colt Technology Services became the first terrestrial client of AFR-IX’s Barcelona cable landing station, providing an early example of the station’s intended role in terrestrial network interconnection. The project’s commercial and strategic relevance expanded in 2025. Tunisie Telecom signed a partnership agreement relating to Medusa for its 5G services in February. In March, AFR-IX telecom obtained a €14.3 million grant from the European Commission to extend the system into West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The extension indicates an effort to connect Mediterranean and European routes with additional African markets, potentially supporting growing demand from mobile networks, cloud services, data centers, enterprises, and internet platforms. Public reference material does not provide confirmed information on AFR-IX telecom’s founding year, founder, headquarters, ownership, parent company, listing status, or named executives. It also does not establish whether every planned Medusa landing site or extension had entered commercial operation. Accordingly, the company’s documented history is best understood as the history of its announced infrastructure projects, network-presence expansion, and disclosed partnerships rather than as a complete corporate chronology.

1. 2025Tunisie Telecom partnership for 5G

   Tunisie Telecom signed a partnership relating to Medusa to support its 5G services.

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2. 2025European Commission grant for West Africa extension

   AFR-IX secured a €14.3 million European Commission grant to extend Medusa into West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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3. 2023Libyan landing partnership

   AFR-IX partnered with Libyan United International for Telecommunication and Technology to land the Medusa cable in Tripoli and Benghazi.

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4. 2023First terrestrial client at Barcelona cable landing station

   Colt Technology Services became the first reported terrestrial client of AFR-IX’s Barcelona cable landing station.

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5. 2022Medusa Subsea Cable System announced

   AFR-IX announced the Medusa Subsea Cable System, an approximately 8,700-kilometre system planned with 24 fiber pairs and a reported cost of €326 million.

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6. 2022Telecom Egypt infrastructure agreement

   Telecom Egypt agreed with AFR-IX to provide infrastructure for the Medusa system across Egypt.

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7. 2022Point of presence established in Accra

   AFR-IX established a point of presence in Accra in December, adding a second documented West African network location.

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8. 2021Point of presence established in Lagos

   AFR-IX established a point of presence in Lagos, expanding its network footprint into West Africa.

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A specialist telecommunications infrastructure provider focused on subsea cable systems, internet interconnection, and Africa-Europe connectivity.

• Medusa Subsea Cable SystemSubmarine telecommunications system2022

  Medusa is AFR-IX telecom’s principal announced infrastructure project. The planned cable is approximately 8,700 kilometres long and uses 24 fiber pairs. Its intended route links Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece, with additional planned expansion into West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The system is intended to add international capacity and route diversity for operators and other communications customers.

• Barcelona cable landing stationCable landing station

  AFR-IX’s Barcelona cable landing station is intended to connect submarine cable infrastructure with terrestrial telecommunications networks. Colt Technology Services was identified as the station’s first terrestrial client in January 2023, illustrating its role in wholesale interconnection and onward network transport.

• Points of presenceNetwork interconnection

  AFR-IX operates documented points of presence in Lagos and Accra. These facilities extend the company’s network reach in West Africa and can provide local access to international connectivity and interconnection services.

• 2025Extend Medusa into West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the CongoStrategy

  AFR-IX sought to expand the Medusa system beyond its Mediterranean and Europe-facing route into additional African markets.

  What changed. The company secured a European Commission grant to support an extension into West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

  Aftermath. The grant strengthened the project’s planned Africa-Europe connectivity scope, although the available reference does not establish the completion date or final operational status of the extension.

  European Commission grant. €14.3 million (March 2025)

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• 2022Proceed with the Medusa Subsea Cable SystemProduct launch

  AFR-IX identified a need for additional submarine capacity linking Europe, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and Africa.

  What changed. The company announced Medusa as an approximately 8,700-kilometre, 24-fiber-pair cable system with a reported €326 million cost and a broad multi-country landing plan.

  Aftermath. The project led to infrastructure and commercial agreements involving Telecom Egypt, Libyan United International for Telecommunication and Technology, Colt Technology Services, and Tunisie Telecom, followed by European Commission support for a West Africa extension.

  Reported project cost. €326 million (Announced in January 2022)

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• 2025Tunisie Telecom partners with Medusa for 5G services

  Tunisie Telecom signed a partnership agreement connected with the Medusa Subsea Cable System to support its 5G services.

  OtherProduct generation
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• 2025European Commission awards grant for Medusa West Africa extension

  AFR-IX telecom secured a €14.3 million European Commission grant to extend the Medusa Subsea Cable System into West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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• 2023Medusa adds planned Libyan landing locations

  AFR-IX partnered with Libyan United International for Telecommunication and Technology to land the Medusa cable in Tripoli and Benghazi.

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• 2023Colt becomes first terrestrial client of Barcelona cable landing station

  Colt Technology Services became the first reported terrestrial client of AFR-IX’s Barcelona cable landing station.

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• 2022AFR-IX announces the Medusa Subsea Cable System

  AFR-IX announced an approximately 8,700-kilometre submarine cable system with 24 fiber pairs, linking locations across southern Europe, North Africa, and the eastern Mediterranean. The reported project cost was €326 million, with partial financing from the European Investment Bank.

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• 2022Telecom Egypt agrees to support Medusa infrastructure

  At Mobile World Congress 2022, Telecom Egypt and AFR-IX reached an agreement concerning infrastructure for the Medusa Subsea Cable System across Egypt.

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• 2022AFR-IX expands points of presence in West Africa

  AFR-IX established a point of presence in Lagos in 2021 and opened another in Accra in December 2022, extending its network footprint in West Africa.

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1. AFR-IX Telecom