- Orange, Equitix, and MDM formed a joint venture to develop the Pisces subsea cable system, Orange said.
- The 3,125 km cable will connect Ireland, France, Spain, and Portugal with 16 fiber pairs, according to Orange.
- The project received significant funding from the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility, Orange stated.
PARIS, France — Orange, Equitix, and MDM announced a joint venture to deliver the Pisces subsea cable system, a new direct digital connection between Ireland and continental Europe.
Orange said in an emailed press release today that the project aims to expand connectivity and offer new commercial opportunities across Western Europe.
New Connectivity Link
The Pisces cable will span approximately 3,125 kilometers and feature 16 fiber pairs. It will connect Galway, Ireland; Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, France; Sopelana, Spain; and Carcavelos, Portugal. Orange will build a new landing station in Sopelana. The system seeks to address the lack of direct connectivity between Ireland and mainland Europe. Carine Romanetti has been appointed CEO of the PISCES Cable System Limited Joint Venture.
Project Details and Funding
The project benefits from significant funding support through the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. The marine survey for the route was completed in August by Elettra Tlc and Orange Marine, subsidiaries of Orange. Engineering and permitting processes are underway. The cable is expected to be deployed during 2028. Investment is being made through Equitix Infra Ireland, which is backed by anchor investor the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
Strategic Importance
The Pisces system aims to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty and foster sustainable socio-economic development and inclusion. It will provide a high-capacity, open-access, and scalable dark fiber link from Ireland’s west coast directly to France, Spain, and Portugal. Ireland is a major European cloud and datacenter hub. The cable will enable direct traffic interconnection across datacenters and continental Europe, strengthening the resilience of Ireland’s digital infrastructure and its links with European and global networks. It will also interconnect with existing transatlantic and international systems, enhancing integration of European networks with global partners.