Submarine Cable Set to Reach Fuerteventura Too

Government Allocates €4.8 Million to Expand Canalink Base 4 Submarine System to Connect with Fuerteventura

The Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday a direct grant of €4.8 million for the expansion project of the Canalink Base 4 submarine system through a new branch that will connect to the south of Fuerteventura.

The Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, said that the extension of this submarine cable:

“will strengthen Fuerteventura’s connectivity, providing greater redundancy in the south of the island and enhancing the security of the telecommunications network.”

He added that with this action the central government:

“reaffirms its commitment to territorial cohesion, digital transformation and the strengthening of competitiveness of all territories.”

Regarding the Canary Islands, he noted that they:

“depend directly on these submarine cables to guarantee their connectivity and are fundamental for their economic, social and digital development.”

The government also emphasized its aim to:

“ensure the modernization” of these networks, so the grant “will serve the goal of social and territorial integration” by combating the digital divide that affects network coverage in an ultra‑peripheral and insular area.

The project was submitted to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). In the realm of digital connectivity infrastructure, the CEF promotes, among other things, the deployment of backbone electronic communication networks, including submarine cables that connect European territories to third countries on other continents or that link islands and ultra‑peripheral regions, as is the case here.

For projects that pass the evaluation phase but cannot be funded due to budget constraints, the CEF provides a “Excellence Seal” certification, recommending financing through other sources. This project has received the Excellence Seal from the European Commission, justifying the exceptional nature of the direct aid grant.