The role of subsea cables in the economic transformation of the Middle East

FREE PERSPECTIVE

This perspective focuses on the increasing investment in, and the socioeconomic impact of, subsea cable networks in the Middle East.

The value of subsea cable connectivity has been demonstrated in numerous socioeconomic studies, which have shown how this technology has been a catalyst for economic growth and globalisation. Subsea networks facilitate affordable, good-quality internet access and are therefore identified as an enabler of ICT diffusion, higher investment in mobile broadband infrastructure and datacentre and, more generally, long term economic and social development. In developed regions, such as the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states, new opportunities can arise from high-quality connectivity delivered via subsea cables. These include a strong base for start-ups focused on new use cases and the creation of a digital hub and ecosystem, that can enable advanced services for larger neighbouring economies. The latter will be essential for the development of the region and the consolidation of its role as global connectivity hub.