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The underwater digital infrastructure project carried out by Unitirreno Submarine Network, the new-co established in 2022 by Unidata and Azimut’s Ipcdi Fund (Infrastructure Fund for ESG Growth), takes a decisive step forward on the road to completion. This is the first Open Cable system with 24 pairs of optical fibers in the Mediterranean and according to the company’s forecasts it should go into operation in the second quarter of 2025: the submarine infrastructure, which extends for 900 kilometers in the Tyrrhenian Sea, is the first of its kind to achieve full utilization of repeaters and fiber cables.
The perspective
«The new submarine cable system will allow Unitirreno to provide innovative submarine fiber optic technology within an open cable system structure, allowing customers to choose the technological solutions they prefer for individual fiber pairs – says the president of Unitirreno Andrea Cornetti -. The experience and technology brought by Alcatel Submarine Networks to the manufacturing process, combined with the marine detection and installation capabilities of Elettra Tlc SpA, further strengthen Unitirreno’s critical mission in providing much-needed capability for the Submarine region. Mediterranean”.
Environmental permits
The project, which is worth around 80 million in investment, has meanwhile obtained environmental authorizations in Mazara del Vallo (Trapani), Genoa and Rome-Fiumicino: Mazara del Vallo will be connected to Genoa with a hub near Rome-Fiumicino. In concrete terms, it means that the submarine cable has obtained landing permits which, explains the CEO of Unidata and Unitirreno Renato Brunetti, «are not only essential for establishing critical connection points within our submarine network, but also represent a significant milestone in our journey towards providing better regional connectivity to support evolving business requirements.” In practice, these are permits considered fundamental for establishing the main connection points within the submarine cable network, ensuring seamless integration and operation: «With these permits, the company has strategically positioned itself in such a way to allow potential customers to design, right now, the interconnection with the cable, in light of a precise definition of the connection point” the company explains.
A high-capacity submarine cable
Meanwhile, system qualification has been completed. The Unitirreno submarine cable, featuring a 24-pair fiber system, is the first of its kind in the Mediterranean region to achieve the maximum utilization capacity of submarine repeaters and fiber cables. The production of the Unitirreno cable system and associated equipment is underway under the guidance of Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN): this phase of the project is proceeding according to schedule, the company assures, with meticulous attention to detail and to the integration of cutting-edge technologies that guarantee optimal performance at the time of installation. «The Unitirreno submarine cable project is significantly contributing to improving regional connectivity in the Mediterranean, leveraging our great implementation experience – underlines Arturo Danesi, COO of Unitirreno -. The Unitirreno project represents a significant step forward in meeting the growing demand for reliable communication infrastructures connecting the Mediterranean region with the most important Internet exchange points in Europe.”
Construction site open for the data center
However, the construction site for the data center that should be built in Rome is still open: the establishment of a new company (Unicenter) was planned and there was talk of a further investment of around fifty million. The company has not yet been established but, according to forecasts, everything should be completed by the end of the year.