In today’s increasingly digitized world, the demand for secure, reliable, low-latency internet connectivity has never been greater. To quench this insatiable thirst for data, Internet infrastructure is undergoing a profound transformation, and Sines, a quaint Portuguese town with a rich maritime history, is emerging as a key player in this global paradigm shift. Sines is on its way to becoming the new Atlantic Hub for submarine cable connectivity, thanks to with extensive experience in the telecommunications market, EllaLink’s CEO and COO… With extensive experience in the telecommunications market, EllaLink’s CEO and COO, Philippe Dumont and Diego Matas, recognized the untapped potential of Sines as a hub for submarine cable connectivity.
The Rise of Sines: A Journey of Diversity
The story of Sines’s rise as a submarine cable connectivity hub begins with EllaLink, a state-of-the-art undersea cable system that spans 6,000 kilometers, connecting Europe and Latin America. EllaLink is a vital link in the global network of submarine cables, providing high-capacity, low-latency connectivity across the southern Atlantic. Its diverse direct route from Portugal to Brazil has made it a game-changer for data traffic between the two continents.
EllaLink’s strategic location in Sines is a key driver behind the town’s newfound significance. Sines, traditionally a maritime hub, has witnessed a seamless transition to becoming a digital gateway. The town’s strategic location along the Portuguese coast provides a safe and accessible landing point for submarine cables, ensuring that data transfer remains smooth, secure and uninterrupted.
aicep Global Parks was also a vital contributor to the transformation of Sines into a new Atlantic Hub. As an entity that promotes investment in Portugal, it plays a pivotal role in creating a favorable environment for businesses in the digital and tech sectors. aicep Global Parks fosters the development of industrial and technology parks, offering a range of services and incentives to attract international companies.
“Establishing a digital and connectivity hub is a pivotal step in realizing EllaLink’s overarching vision, which was first originated from the decision to build the first-ever cable landing station in Sines for the landing of the EllaLink Cable, connecting directly Europe and Latin America. The newly created Atlantic Hub and the Olisipo Submarine cable system will enhance Portugal’s interconnectivity, presenting new investors with groundbreaking opportunities in the region and reinforcing Sines’ position as a preferred gateway to and from Europe.”
The collaboration between EllaLink and aicep Global Parks has been instrumental in transforming Sines into a hotspot for submarine cable connectivity. Together, these organizations are leveraging Sines’s strategic location and the EllaLink cable system to make it a hub for submarine cable connectivity. To expand the region’s interconnectivity ecosystem, EllaLink are creating a new domestic subsea system between Sines and Lisbon, Olisipo.
A Safe, Neutral, Resilient, and Easy Place to Land and Operate Submarine Cables
One of the key factors driving Sines’s emergence as the new Atlantic Hub is its commitment to being a safe, neutral, resilient, and easy place for submarine cable owners to land and operate their cables. This commitment is highlighted by the strategic partnership between the three companies.
Sines’s safety as a landing point is unrivalled. The EllaLink cable system leverages Sines’s favorable geography, ensuring that cables avoid risky areas and offer stability even in adverse weather conditions. The security of data and cable infrastructure is of utmost importance, and Sines is poised to meet these requirements.
Neutrality is another important factor that sets Sines apart. As an open and neutral hub, it doesn’t favor any particular cable operator or business. This neutrality is a bonus for connectivity providers and ensures fair competition and equitable access for all.
Resilience and redundancy are critical in an age where connectivity is essential for global communication, commerce, and data transfer. Sines’s strategic positioning makes it a resilient hub, ensuring that data traffic remains uninterrupted, even in the face of natural disasters or unforeseen events. The Portuguese Government’s support of SMART (Science Monitoring and Reliable Communications) cable concepts demonstrates their keen interest to understand the undersea ecosystem, and with EllaLink’s Geolab utilizing DAS (distributed acoustic sensor) technology along their subsea routes threats to the cables will be monitored alongside provision of highly valuable data on the wider ocean environment.
We all know that permitting is one of the main causes of delay to subsea construction projects, and Sines prides itself on being an easy place to land and operate submarine cables. The town’s authorities have streamlined regulations and processes, making it simple for cable operators to establish a presence in the region. The synergy between government and industry is what makes this transformation to becoming a new Atlantic hub possible.
The Global Impact of Sines
The impact of Sines’s transformation into the new Atlantic Hub is not limited to the region or even to Europe and Latin America. It extends globally, affecting internet connectivity and data transmission worldwide. The global community now has access to faster, more reliable, and more resilient internet connections, thanks to the efforts of EllaLink, aicep Global Parks. Sines’s emergence as a critical hub is a testament to the power of collaboration between government, industry, and innovation. It demonstrates the potential of small towns to become significant players in the ever-evolving digital landscape. The success of Sines serves as an inspiring example for other regions that seek to harness their unique assets for the benefit of the global digital economy.
