DE-CIX & Cabo Verde Telecom eye South Atlantic route

DE-CIX and Cabo Verde Telecom have signed a Letter of Intent to explore a South Atlantic interconnection corridor linking Lisbon and São Paulo.

The plan would create a new route for digital traffic between Southern Europe, West Africa and Latin America.

The proposed arrangement centres on Cape Verde's mid-Atlantic position, which could support more direct data exchange across the three regions. It is also intended to reduce dependence on established traffic routes through Northern Europe and North America.

Under the planned cooperation, Cabo Verde Telecom would provide transport capacity between Lisbon and São Paulo, while DE-CIX would provide access to its interconnection services and ecosystems in Frankfurt, Madrid, Marseille, New York and São Paulo.

If completed, the arrangement would give DE-CIX access to dedicated transatlantic transport capacity between Lisbon and São Paulo. The technical scope and commercial terms would be set out in a definitive agreement.

Route strategy

The corridor is designed to let networks in Southern Europe, West Africa and Latin America exchange traffic more directly. The project is aimed at network operators, internet service providers, content and cloud providers, and enterprises that need connectivity across the three regions.

Cape Verde has emerged as a point of interest for international network infrastructure because of its location between Europe, West Africa and the Americas. Cabo Verde Telecom said its existing infrastructure and international links could support a broader South Atlantic digital network.

DE-CIX operates internet exchanges in 60 locations across Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East and Asia. Its services are accessible from data centres in more than 600 cities and connect thousands of network operators, internet service providers, content providers and enterprise networks.

Cabo Verde Telecom provides fixed and mobile communications, broadband, internet, IP-TV, data services and information and communications technology services across the archipelago. It has been investing in international connectivity infrastructure, submarine cable systems, international points of presence and a carrier-neutral data centre.

Its network is supported by cable systems including EllaLink, SHARE and WACS. These assets form part of Cabo Verde Telecom's wider effort to strengthen Cape Verde's role as a connectivity hub linking Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Executive comments

Theresa Bobis, Head of Emerging Wholesale Markets at DE-CIX, outlined the rationale for the plan.

"Digital growth increasingly depends on resilient, diverse, and geographically distributed connectivity," said Theresa Bobis, Head of Emerging Wholesale Markets at DE-CIX. "Together with Cabo Verde Telecom, we want to create a new interconnection corridor across the South Atlantic that brings digital ecosystems in Europe, Africa, and Latin America closer together. More direct data routes can improve performance, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and open up new opportunities for businesses and network operators across all three regions."

The proposal also reflects Cabo Verde Telecom's effort to position Cape Verde more firmly within international data routes.

"Partnering with DE-CIX represents an important step in strengthening Cape Verde's position as a strategic digital gateway between Africa, Europe, and the Americas. By combining CVTelecom's international connectivity capabilities with DE-CIX's global interconnection ecosystem, we aim to enhance connectivity, resilience, and access to digital services, creating new value for our customers while contributing to the continued digital development of Cape Verde and the wider West African region," said Isa Neves, Chief Marketing Officer at Cabo Verde Telecom.

The Letter of Intent sets out an initial framework for the proposed cooperation. The arrangement is non-binding and remains subject to further negotiation and the execution of a definitive agreement.