Sparkle, the international services arm of TIM Group, signed a memorandum of understanding with Jordan-based NaiTel and advisory firm iLevant to extend the GreenMed submarine cable system through Jordan, creating a new digital corridor linking Europe with Asia. The initiative combines the GreenMed subsea system with terrestrial fiber infrastructure and regional interconnection facilities in Jordan to improve resilience and route diversity across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.
The project builds on Jordan’s growing role as a regional connectivity hub through the Aqaba Digital Hub. Jordan already hosts landing points for the BlueMed and Blue & Raman subsea systems, positioning the country as a strategic transit route along the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The partners said the GreenMed extension would support diversified terrestrial and subsea connectivity paths between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia while strengthening regional digital ecosystems.
Sparkle said the agreement represents another milestone in the broader GreenMed initiative, which has received financial support from the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program. Sparkle operates more than 600,000 km (372,823 miles) of fiber infrastructure globally, spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia. NaiTel, the telecom arm of Aqaba Digital Hub, focuses on fiber infrastructure, internet exchange services, and international connectivity solutions in Jordan.
- GreenMed will integrate subsea and terrestrial infrastructure through Jordan
- Aqaba Digital Hub serves as a landing point for BlueMed and Blue & Raman
- The initiative supports route diversity and resilience across the Eastern Mediterranean
- Jordan continues to position itself as a strategic IMEC connectivity gateway
- GreenMed has received funding support from the European Commission’s CEF program
- Sparkle operates more than 600,000 km (372,823 miles) of global fiber infrastructure
Enrico Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle, said: “This agreement marks a further milestone in the development of GreenMed and confirms the strength of our long-standing collaboration with NaiTel and iLevant. Expanding the system across Jordan enables the connection of strategic digital ecosystems and fosters new development opportunities across the Mediterranean region and beyond.”
| Item | BlueMed | GreenMed |
|---|---|---|
| Project Type | Mediterranean subsea segment of the broader Blue & Raman cable ecosystem | Mediterranean submarine cable initiative focused on resilient Europe-Middle East connectivity |
| Lead Organizations | Sparkle, with participation in the broader Blue & Raman system ecosystem | Sparkle in partnership with NaiTel and iLevant |
| Primary Objective | Provide diversified Mediterranean connectivity as part of a larger Europe-to-India digital corridor | Develop an alternative and resilient Europe-Asia digital corridor through Jordan |
| Geographic Scope | Mediterranean Sea, Southern Europe, Middle East, extending toward India through the broader Blue & Raman architecture | Central and Eastern Mediterranean with terrestrial extension across Jordan toward regional border interconnects |
| Jordan / Aqaba Role | Aqaba Digital Hub serves as a strategic landing and regional interconnection point | GreenMed is planned to extend through Jordan via Aqaba Digital Hub infrastructure |
| IMEC Relevance | Supports broader Europe-Middle East-Asia interconnection strategies | Closely aligned with IMEC concepts by using Jordan as a terrestrial bridge between Mediterranean and Gulf connectivity zones |
| Resilience Strategy | Diversifies Mediterranean subsea infrastructure routes | Designed to support route diversity and reduce dependence on congested maritime chokepoints including the Suez corridor |
| Role of NaiTel & iLevant | Not primary operators of the BlueMed subsea segment | Support terrestrial fiber infrastructure and regional interconnection across Jordan toward Saudi Arabia and Iraq |
| Funding Support | Not specifically disclosed in the cited announcement | Supported by the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program |
| Connection Model | Subsea Mediterranean infrastructure integrated with regional terrestrial connectivity | Integrated subsea and terrestrial digital corridor architecture |
| Status | Part of an active multinational subsea cable initiative | Expansion and corridor development stage under MoU framework |
| Editorial Note | Public disclosures do not fully specify exact subsea paths, terrestrial transitions, branching units, or landing configurations. Most published maps are conceptual illustrations intended to show regional connectivity relationships rather than precise engineering routes. | |
🌐 Analysis: The agreement reflects the accelerating push to develop alternative digital corridors between Europe and Asia as operators seek greater route diversity outside traditional Red Sea and Suez Canal pathways. Jordan and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region continue to attract investment as geopolitical concerns, traffic growth, and AI-driven cloud demand increase the need for resilient terrestrial and subsea infrastructure.
🌐 Sparkle has expanded its role in Mediterranean connectivity through projects including BlueMed and GreenMed, while regional players such as stc, e&, Telecom Egypt, and Gulf operators continue to invest in IMEC-aligned infrastructure. Aqaba is emerging as a strategic interconnection point linking subsea systems, regional fiber routes, cloud infrastructure, and AI-ready data centers.
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