Why Orange’s Medusa Cable Boosts EU–Africa Links
Orange has reinforced its position as a cornerstone of European and Mediterranean digital infrastructure with the first landing of the Medusa submarine cable at its facilities in Marseille. The project marks a strategic milestone in advancing resilient, high-capacity data routes between Europe and North Africa.
Strengthening Marseille’s role as a global interconnection hub
With the arrival of the Medusa cable, Orange reaffirms its commitment to supporting international connectivity and driving digital growth across the Mediterranean.
Leveraging its fully redundant fibre-optic infrastructure, it now provides customers with secure, direct access to Marseille’s interconnected data centres, a configuration that strengthens access resilience and enhances global reach.
The deployment ensures seamless links between Marseille and major European network hubs such as Paris, London and Frankfurt, as well as onward connections to Africa, Asia and the Americas.
The turnkey solution, managed entirely by Orange, encompasses technical, regulatory, security and environmental oversight, consolidating Marseille’s standing as a central node in international telecommunications.
Connecting Europe and Africa with the Medusa System
The Medusa system’s European landing in Marseille represents a pivotal development for regional connectivity.
The 1,050 km cable segment connects Marseille and Bizerte in Tunisia, part of the Via Tunisia initiative announced by Orange in April 2023, and addresses the growing bandwidth demand across the Mediterranean basin.
By enhancing network diversity and performance, the Medusa project facilitates the long-term scalability of cross-border communications, providing telcos and digital service providers with a foundation for next-generation data exchange.
Backed by the European Union and the Global Gateway Strategy
The Marseille–Bizerte segment benefits from co-financing by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
Three fibre pairs owned by Orange are supported within the framework of the European Global Gateway strategy, an initiative aimed at strengthening Europe–Africa connectivity, enabling digital transition and narrowing the digital divide.
Through EU-backed projects such as Medusa, Orange continues to play an instrumental role in realising Europe’s vision for secure, sustainable and inclusive digital infrastructure.
Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale, commented: “We are proud to bring our leadership and expertise to the Medusa cable, hosted within our secure infrastructure in Marseille, with laying operations carried out by our cable ships, Teliri and Sophie Germain.
"Our infrastructure offers a key link in Mediterranean basin connectivity, ensuring digital resilience and supporting socio-economic development.
"With this landing, Orange enhances Europe’s digital sovereignty and positions Marseille as a global digital hub, now hosting the arrival of 17 submarine cables connected worldwide.”
Environmentally responsible deployment
In line with Orange’s sustainability commitments, teams conducted the cable landing using horizontal directional drilling to minimise ecological impact.
The approach protects sensitive marine ecosystems, including Posidonia meadows and the Calanques National Park, while meeting regional environmental standards.
The Sophie Germain, equipped with low-emission propulsion technology, carried out the installation, reducing its environmental footprint and reinforcing Orange’s responsible approach to infrastructure expansion.
Orange: A Global force in submarine connectivity
As a global leader in submarine cable systems, Orange continues to invest heavily in future-ready connectivity infrastructure.
The Group’s portfolio now spans more than 40 submarine cables, totalling nearly 450,000 km of networks worldwide.
Its subsidiaries Elettra Tlc and Orange Marine deliver full lifecycle expertise, from engineering and installation to maintenance, across telecommunications, energy and hybrid systems.
The integrated model ensures Orange retains complete operational control, offering customers end-to-end reliability and network sovereignty.
The Medusa landing in Marseille illustrates Orange’s strategic commitment to enabling digital transformation across regions.
By combining technical excellence with environmental responsibility, it continues to strengthen Europe’s international gateways, ensuring that Mediterranean connectivity remains at the forefront of global communications.
