Preparatory work is underway for a high-capacity undersea cable system connecting the Canary Islands with Morocco, a major digital infrastructure project for both regions. Led by Canalink, the initiative comprises two projects: the RING network linking Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, and a new branch to the Moroccan port of Tarfaya. Work includes seabed soundings to define routes between the eastern Canary Islands and an assessment of the best location for the future cable landing at Tarfaya, information from project information reported by the Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER).
Valued at €33.98 million, the RING project will lay approximately 553 kilometres of fibre-optic cable in a closed loop between the three eastern Canary Islands. Its two submarine routes, running east and west, are designed to maintain service if one segment is damaged, an improvement over the more vulnerable linear systems currently in use. Route-definition soundings are an early engineering step in planning the cable corridor. RING is scheduled for completion in September 2026.
Funding for RING includes €23 million from the European CEF Digital programme, reflecting the project's strategic importance for regional connectivity. The new infrastructure will replace ageing cables and provide the bandwidth needed for e-commerce, online education and telemedicine, alongside growing demand from data centres. Canalink has also launched a tender for a new submarine cable station in Pájara, Fuerteventura, with a three-month construction window and a budget of €481,339.50.
Direct Link to Africa
Separate from RING, the Morocco project will add a dedicated branch from the eastern cable to Tarfaya at a cost of €13.43 million. CEF Digital will provide €7.46 million. Canalink's documentation schedules the connection for completion by February 2028. The Tarfaya landing is part of a wider Canary Islands-to-North Africa connectivity plan. As preparatory work continues, Canalink is assessing the coastal site for the future cable.
The new route aims to create a direct, high-capacity digital corridor between Europe and Africa, reducing the risk of outages while diversifying Atlantic communications. The project depends on international permits and bilateral coordination between Spain and Morocco. It also requires detailed seabed studies and careful selection of the coastal landing point. The route is designed to support rising demand for digital services and 5G technologies across both continents.
Budget and Project Scope
Together, the RING and Morocco projects represent an official investment of €47.4 million. Some reports have cited a €49 million figure, but Canalink's documents identify two separate undertakings with distinct timelines and funding sources. The higher estimate may reflect a broader budget perimeter not detailed in the available documentation.
Questions Over Western Sahara
Canalink's materials suggest that Morocco could eventually extend the cable farther south toward Western Sahara. The official plans currently end at Tarfaya, but, with no confirmed extension, timeline, budget or permits for further expansion. Western Sahara remains on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. A 2024 European Court of Justice ruling requires any EU-Morocco agreements affecting the territory to respect the consent of the Sahrawi people. Any future extension would so require careful legal and diplomatic consideration.
For now, Tarfaya is the confirmed endpoint, and no plan for a southern extension has been published. The legal implications for Spain are limited to the current route. Any further expansion would depend on new agreements and regulatory approvals.
The planned expansion is expected to give the Canary Islands more strong communications and new opportunities for economic and technological growth. It also demands the kind of behind-the-scenes preparation and commitment found in other fields, including Spanish orchestras, where months of work and coordination go into a successful performance, as highlighted in this recent feature on the realities of summer orchestras in Spain.
