Orange, infrastructure investor Equitix and Irish subsea cable developer MDM have formed a joint venture to develop the Pisces subsea cable system, with deployment expected in 2028.
The 3,125-kilometre cable will feature 16 fibre pairs, connecting Galway in Ireland with landing points in France, Spain and Portugal. Orange will also develop a cable landing station at Sopelana in Spain.
The project will provide an alternative route for Irish data traffic travelling through the United Kingdom, diversifying connections between Ireland and continental Europe. The system is designed to offer high-capacity, open-access connectivity along Europe’s Atlantic coast.
Ireland’s substantial data centre sector makes international connectivity important to its digital economy. The new cable is intended to provide additional capacity for data traffic between Irish facilities and European networks as demand for digital services grows.
The project has received support through the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility, which funds strategic infrastructure. Equitix is investing through Equitix Infra Ireland, its Irish greenfield infrastructure fund, alongside the project partners and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
Carine Romanetti has been appointed chief executive of PISCES Cable System Limited, the joint venture established to deliver the project.
A marine survey conducted by Orange Marine and Elettra Tlc was completed in August. Engineering and permitting work is now under way ahead of deployment, which is expected in 2028.
