€130 million underwater link connecting from Galway to Portugal

Orange Mobile, alongside infrastructure investors Equitix and MDM, will build the 3,125km link which will pass through parts of France and Spain with its end destination in Carcavelos in Portugal.

With a new cable landing station in Sopelana in Spain, the cable will have 16 fibre pairs and will provide a faster and more reliable connection between Ireland and mainland Europe while also reducing reliance on existing networks.

CEO of Orange Wholesale International, Valérie Cussac said: “As Europe accelerates its AI ambitions, subsea infrastructure along the Atlantic coast becomes more critical than ever. At Orange, we are convinced that building trusted, high-capacity routes in partnership with like-minded stakeholders is the backbone of Europe’s AI-driven future.

“Pisces reflects this commitment, connecting Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal to reinforce trust across the continent while powering the AI highways that will support sustainable, inclusive growth for generations to come.”

Equitix Chief Investment Officer, Achal Bhuwania, echoed those words saying: “Delivering the connectivity Europe needs will require sustained investment in critical digital infrastructure.

“Pisces is a strong example of what can be achieved by working in partnership across Europe to turn that ambition into reality, strengthening resilience and supporting the continent’s future growth and success.”

MDM Managing Director, Tom McMahon, said this cable reflects years of “hard work and close collaboration with Orange and Equitix”, brought together by a shared “commitment to engineering excellence”.

He said: “With the support of the European Union, we are proud to see that collective effort bring the project to this important milestone.

“We look forward to delivering a cable system that will strengthen Ireland’s connections with continental Europe for decades to come.”