Equitix, MDM and Orange have established a joint venture to develop the Pisces subsea cable system, a new strategic connection between Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal that aims to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty. This initiative highlights Spain’s importance in Europe’s connectivity strategy.

The municipality of Sopelana (Biscay) will house the landing station from which the subsea cable will run to Ireland, providing it with a direct connection to mainland Europe without relying on the United Kingdom. Orange will be responsible for building this station, which will in turn be connected to national hubs.

Financial support from the European Union
Pisces Cable System Limited, which receives financial support from the European Union, has been launched by Equitix, a British infrastructure investor in Europe’s small- and mid-cap segment, Irish subsea cable system developer MDM and French telecommunications operator Orange. Subsea infrastructure expert Carine Romanetti will be the chief executive of the joint venture.

The cable, which will be installed in 2028, will be approximately 3,125 kilometres long and include 16 fibre pairs. It will link the Sopelana landing station with Galway (Ireland), with two further branches connecting from Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez (France) and Carcavelos (Portugal). This is a strategic, high-capacity, open-access and scalable dark fibre link.

Pisces will improve direct traffic interconnection between data centres in Ireland and mainland Europe, and will also interconnect with existing transatlantic and international systems, thereby enhancing the integration of European networks with the rest of the world.

Europe’s AI-powered future
Orange Wholesale International Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Valérie Cussac says: “As Europe accelerates its ambitions in artificial intelligence, subsea infrastructure along the Atlantic coast is becoming more critical than ever. At Orange, we firmly believe that creating reliable, high-capacity routes, in collaboration with partners who share our vision, forms the backbone of Europe’s AI-driven future.”

For Equitix’s chief investment officer, Achal Bhuwania, providing the connectivity Europe needs “will require sustained investment in critical digital infrastructure. Pisces is a clear example of what can be achieved through collaboration across Europe to turn that ambition into reality, improving resilience and supporting the continent’s future growth and success”.

MDM’s managing director, Tom McMahon, describes Pisces as “the result of years of hard work and close collaboration” which, he explains, has been “underpinned by a shared commitment to engineering excellence”.

Finally, Carine Romanetti believes that Pisces “represents a unique opportunity to improve Europe’s digital connectivity and resilience through critical subsea infrastructure. My priority will be to build on the strong foundations already laid, reach the next key milestones and lead the project into its delivery phase”.

^{Photo: Equitix}