The Kardesa submarine cable system will feature landing points in Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine, diversifying digital routes through the region and strengthening network resilience.

Once completed, the system is expected to significantly enhance internet reliability and speed across the participating countries, while stimulating digital investment and economic growth.

The first cable landing, in Bulgaria, is scheduled for 2027, followed by Turkey, Georgia and Ukraine. Work in Ukraine will only be undertaken in internationally recognised safe zones.

UK-based Xtera has been appointed to manage and deliver the €100 million-plus project, which will add over 500 terabits per second of internet capacity across the Black Sea.

According to Vodafone, global demand for new internet routes is rising sharply. There are currently around 5.8 billion mobile users worldwide, 80% of whom own smartphones. That number is forecast to grow by 12% by 2030, driven by 5G adoption, AI, streaming services and the Internet of Things. Submarine systems already carry an estimated 97–98% of international internet traffic, making new capacity critical to digital infrastructure.

Fanan Henriques, product and international business director at Vodafone Business said: “Kardesa will be an important new digital corridor for data traffic between Europe and Asia.

“It will add much needed capacity in the region and will also help Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria and Georgia to attract more investment into their digital industries.”

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