Réunion Island Prepares for Post-SAFE Era with New Undersea Cable

The Réunion Island regional government, in partnership with Orange, Océinde, and Telco OI, is set to invest €93.1 million in a new undersea cable, ReuNION, connecting the island to Durban, South Africa. This project aims to replace the aging SAFE cable, which is nearing the end of its lifespan and has limited capacity. The new cable will have a significant impact on the island's digital connectivity and economy.

The SAFE cable, which has been in operation since 2002, will be decommissioned in 2027, but its capacity of less than 1 terabit per second is considered outdated compared to newer cables like METISS, which was inaugurated in 2018 with a capacity of 24 terabits per second. The METISS cable is currently sufficient to handle the island's data needs, but relying on a single cable is risky, as demonstrated by a 2023 incident where a simultaneous outage and maintenance caused significant internet disruptions.

The ReuNION cable will have 16 pairs of fiber, with two pairs allocated to Orange, one pair to Réunicable, and one pair to Telco OI. The remaining 12 pairs will be available for commercialization by other international operators. This will provide Réunion Island with a substantial capacity to meet the growing demands of its digital economy. The project has received significant support from the European Union, which will cover over half of the costs.

The European Union's support for the ReuNION project is part of its broader strategy to enhance digital connectivity and infrastructure in the region. The Union's Connecting Europe Facility will provide a €20 million subsidy, in addition to the €30 million from the Feder fund. This support underscores the importance of the project in ensuring the region's digital sovereignty.

The next phase of the project involves extending the ReuNION cable to Singapore, a major digital hub in the Indian Ocean region. This extension is estimated to cost between €250 million and €400 million. According to Normane Omarjee, vice-president of the Regional Council and president of La Réunion Connectée, the project would not have been possible without the European Union's support.

The ReuNION project has significant implications for Réunion Island's economy and digital connectivity. The island's strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it an attractive hub for digital infrastructure. With the new cable, Réunion Island aims to establish itself as a secure and reliable digital hub in the region.

The project's success is crucial in ensuring the region's digital sovereignty, particularly in the context of global conflicts and hybrid warfare. The European Union's support for the project reflects its commitment to preserving its sovereignty in critical infrastructure. The ReuNION cable is expected to play a vital role in enhancing the region's digital connectivity and economy.

Key points

• The ReuNION cable will provide Réunion Island with a significant capacity to meet the growing demands of its digital economy.
• The project has received substantial support from the European Union, which will cover over half of the costs.
• The next phase of the project involves extending the ReuNION cable to Singapore, a major digital hub in the Indian Ocean region.