Israel to Become Key Hub in Europe-India Digital Communication Corridor

Israel is poised to become a central link in the digital communication axis connecting Europe and Asia, following a preliminary discussion by the National Infrastructure Committee (NIC). The committee reviewed a plan to lay two submarine communication cables that will link Europe to India via Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. This initial discussion marks the beginning of the planning process for the project, designated as T.A.L. 197.

The initiative is part of the East Med Corridor (EMC) international communication system, designed to create an information transfer route between continents. The system will connect Genoa, Italy, and Marseille, France, passing through Israel, then Jordan and Saudi Arabia, ultimately reaching India, with a future expansion planned to Singapore. This positioning could transform Israel from an endpoint for international communication infrastructure into a transit country for data flow between European and Asian markets.

Each of the two planned cables will contain 16 pairs of optical fibers, enabling the transfer of vast amounts of data. The cables are set to land on Israel's coast at Polg Beach near Netanya and Dalila Beach near Ashkelon. From there, they will connect to existing landing stations in Beit Yehoshua and Ashkelon, then travel via existing underground routes to the Arava border crossing. This infrastructure is expected to increase Israel's available communication capacity, diversify international traffic routes, and reduce reliance on a limited number of existing connections.

The project, promoted by the HOT-TAMA partnership which holds a license from the Ministry of Communications for a cross-border telecommunications facility, also carries significant economic implications. In an era of increasing data consumption by data centers, cloud services, and AI applications, robust international fiber optic infrastructure is crucial for developing the digital economy. An additional connection between Europe and Asia via Israel could enhance its attractiveness as a data transit point and improve the resilience of local communication networks.

Regionally, the planned route is significant as it passes through Jordan and Saudi Arabia, enabling a physical connection between their communication infrastructure and Israel, forming a broader digital corridor. Benny Arbib, Acting Chairman of the NIC, stated that the project is of "strategic importance for the State of Israel, which will strengthen its position as an international communication hub connecting Europe and Asia." He added that the cables would increase data transfer capacity, diversify communication routes, and bolster Israel's digital independence and operational continuity. The announcement did not include details on the expected investment, timelines for cable laying, or the planned commercial operation date.