Bahrain joins global subsea network as stc lands 2Africa Pearls cable

John E. Kaye
- Published
- News

The cable system, part of the world’s longest undersea network, landed on 4 June following investment by stc. The project supports Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and positions the country to meet rising demand for digital services and advanced technologies
Bahrain has landed its first submarine cable system, marking a significant boost for the Kingdom’s digital connectivity.
Telecom operator stc confirmed today it had successfully connected Bahrain to the 2Africa Pearls subsea cable network, part of the world’s longest undersea cable system, spanning 45,000 km. The Bahrain segment involves an investment of US$205 million by stc.
The cable officially landed near the Seef District on 4 June.
The event was attended by Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, H.E. Dr Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and Eng. Khalid Al Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer of stc Bahrain.
According to stc, the operation to connect the subsea cable to Bahrain’s onshore network was completed in record time.
Speaking at the event, Dr Shaikh Abdullah described the landing as an important step forward for Bahrain’s digital ambitions, aligning with the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030.
The achievement reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its position as a regional and global digital hub, in line with the goals of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, he said.

With a design capacity of 180 terabits per second, the cable will significantly expand Bahrain’s international bandwidth, providing the necessary infrastructure for growing demand in areas such as cloud computing, video streaming, and gaming.
Eng. Al Osaimi said the cable landing would increase Bahrain’s current connectivity capacity by ten times, with scope for further expansion.
“We are thrilled to land the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable to Bahrain, this will increase Bahrain’s current connectivity capacity by 10x, further scalable to accommodate future growth,” Al Osaimi added. “This is in line with our commitment to advancing Bahrain’s position as a leading communications and digital hub for the region, directly aligning with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, and its goals for the ICT sector to create a diversified, knowledge-based economy.”
The 2Africa Pearls cable is currently the only subsea cable in the Gulf region capable of supporting the data requirements of next-generation technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The landing is expected to improve connectivity for businesses, consumers, and technology providers across Bahrain.
Main image: Senior representatives from stc, government, and industry mark the landing of the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable in Bahrain, the Kingdom’s first subsea cable connection.
Sign up to The European Newsletter
RECENT ARTICLES
-
XTI Aerospace launches Founders Club for TriFan 600 backers
-
New ranking measures how Europe’s biggest retailers report on sustainability
-
CEOs who endured childhood disasters show greater appetite for risky debt, study finds
-
Galorath appoints Julia Gerth to lead EMEA and APAC sales in global expansion push
-
UK to restart trade talks with China after seven-year pause
-
AM Best affirms Active Re’s ‘A’ rating for third year running
-
UK contract recruitment rises despite slowdown in permanent hiring
-
Forterro buys Spain’s Inology to expand southern Europe footprint
-
Singapore student start-up wins $1m Hult Prize for education platform
-
Nigeria’s startup scene takes global stage as Lagos hosts inaugural GITEX NIGERIA
-
City and Gulf investors track golf’s newest global venture
-
UK businesses increase AI investment despite economic uncertainty, Barclays index finds
-
French CEOs warn politics and geopolitics now threaten bottom lines, ESSEC study finds
-
Study links female-dominated classrooms to higher lifetime earnings for women
-
Inside London’s £1bn super-hotel with £20k penthouses, private butlers and a gilded eagle
-
Kia America hits record monthly sales as EV demand surges
-
Trump family’s crypto debut adds $5bn to fortune amid ethics row
-
Warren Buffett turns 95 – the secrets behind a $130 billion fortune
-
Most game developers now using AI in their workflows, Google Cloud study finds
-
BlackRock takes $89m stake in Freedom Holding, emerging as second-largest shareholder
-
Welcome to Britain’s most exclusive founders’ network with £1M entry bar
-
Portugal’s GR22 crowned Europe’s most rewarding hiking trail
-
Music faces a bum note without elephant dung, new research warns
-
Fermi America secures $350m in financing led by Macquarie Group
-
Cambodia to rename key highway after Donald Trump for brokering peace deal