Mauritania Optical Cable Fusion Plant

Mauritania is establishing a state-of-the-art optical cable infrastructure through the EllaLink submarine cable, including a new cable landing station and fiber fusion facilities in Nouadhibou, set to enhance international connectivity by early 2027.

Overview of the Project

Mauritania is currently connected to the world via the ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) submarine cable. To diversify and strengthen its international connectivity, the country has partnered with EllaLink to construct a second high-capacity subsea cable directly linking Mauritania to Madrid, Spain . The project includes a new cable landing station in Nouadhibou, a +500 km branch connecting to the main EllaLink trunk, and terrestrial links to integrate with the national network .

Optical Cable Fusion and Technology

The Mauritania branch of EllaLink is equipped with two fiber pairs and uses advanced optical technologies, including ROADM WSS branching units, enabling flexible routing and high-capacity transmission . The fusion plant within the landing station handles fiber splicing and optical cable fusion, ensuring low-loss connections between the subsea cable and terrestrial networks. This facility is critical for maintaining signal integrity, low latency, and scalable bandwidth, initially providing 200 Gbps, with potential upgrades to 12 Tbps .

Construction and Timeline

• Coastal installation of the subsea cable began in May 2026, with full deployment expected by August 2026 .
• Cable landing station construction in Nouadhibou started in July 2025 and is currently progressing, with 46% completion reported as of early 2026 .
• Operational service is targeted for early 2027, ahead of the original 2028 schedule . The landing station is a neutral facility, allowing multiple national operators to access the infrastructure via diverse routes, enhancing resilience and redundancy .

Strategic Impact

The new optical cable infrastructure will:

• Provide direct, low-latency connectivity to European cloud, AI, and data services .
• Support digital transformation in sectors such as e-government, education, health, agriculture, transport, and energy .
• Reduce reliance on a single cable system, mitigating the risk of economic disruption due to connectivity outages .
• Enable Mauritania to scale its international bandwidth over the next 25 years, supporting long-term digital growth .

Integration with National Network

Mauritania's national optical fiber network, completed by ZTE Corporation, spans 1,760 km, connecting major cities and integrating with the new submarine cable . The fusion plant at the landing station ensures seamless interconnection between the subsea and terrestrial networks, allowing operators like Mauritel, Mattel, and Chinguitel to leverage the new high-capacity link .

Funding and Support

The project is co-financed by the European Investment Bank and the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), with a total cost of approximately €29.5 million . This international support underscores the strategic importance of Mauritania's enhanced digital infrastructure. In summary, the Mauritania Optical Cable Fusion Plant is a key component of the EllaLink project, enabling high-capacity, low-latency international connectivity, supporting national digital transformation, and providing a robust platform for future growth in telecommunications and digital services.