New submarine cable route to connect South Atlantic regions for faster data exchange
DE-CIX and Cabo Verde Telecom have signed an agreement to develop a subsea interconnection corridor between Lisbon and São Paulo, reducing reliance on northern hubs. The route would provide more direct data paths for networks across Europe, West Africa and Latin America while improving reliability and efficiency. DE-CIX will provide interconnection services while CVTelecom supplies the transport capacity across the Atlantic.
The partnership represents a strategic shift in global data infrastructure, bypassing traditional routing through established northern telecommunications hubs. By positioning Lisbon and São Paulo as anchor points for a dedicated Atlantic corridor, the initiative creates a triangular connectivity model that directly serves European, West African, and South American markets. CVTelecom brings submarine cable transport capabilities while DE-CIX contributes its network exchange infrastructure across five major cities, enabling participating operators to access distributed interconnection points without rerouting through distant geographic hubs.
The arrangement underscores Cape Verde's emerging role as a strategic telecommunications waypoint. The agreement grants CVTelecom access to DE-CIX's interconnection ecosystems in Frankfurt, Madrid, Marseille, New York, and São Paulo, while DE-CIX secures dedicated transatlantic transport capacity. This mutual resource-sharing model addresses a growing demand for diverse, redundant connectivity paths that can reduce latency and improve network resilience across multiple regions simultaneously.
This infrastructure development could reduce data transmission costs and latency for businesses operating across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Financial services, media streaming, and cloud services providers may benefit from faster, more direct routing options. The initiative could also enhance network resilience by distributing traffic loads and reducing dependency on concentrated northern hubs. However, realizing these benefits depends on adoption rates among operators and whether competitive pressures encourage similar alternative routes, potentially fragmenting rather than consolidating global data pathways.