Cyprus to fund new internet submarine cable link to Lebanon

In the world of communications, Lebanon is connected to the rest of the world by two submarine cables: the first runs between Marseille, France, and Tripoli, and the second runs between Cyprus and Beirut, both of which are important for securing the Internet.

As a result of the nearly 27-year-old Lebanese Cypriot cable's increased vulnerability to failures, Lebanon is at risk of losing Internet connectivity if problems also arise with the French-Lebanese cable.

Thus, Lebanon could not replace the cable with Cyprus, so the Cypriots volunteered for this operation.

Since last March, they have offered the Lebanese side this operation. But, the Cabinet rejected the Cypriot offer because Israel may hack this cable and further expose Lebanon. However, the security services approved the Cypriot offer after a six-month investigation.

Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm signed the agreement with the Cypriot company CYTA.

This submarine cable will cost $12 million, and the implementation process could take two years. Its costs will be fully covered by a Cypriot company, which can recover them in ten years through revenues from the cable's higher carrying capacity than the current one.

The importance of this cable for Cyprus also stems from the fact that the island seeks to improve its Internet capabilities, which is why it is connected to 13 submarine cables.

Moreover, Lebanon had other options, such as linking a submarine cable with Egypt, but the financial capacity was not available; as a result, the Cypriot option was preferable.

Lebanon has requested the Cypriot company to ensure that the terms book of the new cable binding will guarantee the cost of branching a third cable that will reach Nahr Ibrahim area or Jdaideh, to be implemented later.