The Europe Middle-East India Connect 1 (EMIC-1) is a new intercontinental subsea cable and terrestrial fiber system developed by Digital 9 Infrastructure (D9), the owner of Aqua Comms. The EMIC-1 cable system is in fact a sub-system of 2Africa Pearls.

On July 28, 2021, D9 reported to the London Stock Exchange that is has entered into definitive agreements to deploy over £50 million (US$69.5 million) into the development of a new intercontinental fibre system, the Europe Middle-East India Connect 1 (EMIC-1). D9 is investing over £50 million over a three-year period, alongside a leading global content provider and consortium.

D9 announced later that the company has agreed to purchase rights to one fibre pair from Edge Network Services Ltd (a subsidiary of Facebook) on the recently announced 2Africa Pearls fibreoptic cable system, enabling connectivity from Europe through Egypt to Oman and India. D9 will market the route as EMIC-1.

Aqua Comms, acquired by D9 in April 2021, operates and manages the capacity on behalf of D9 as an integral part of its expanding global subsea network.

In the end of 2024, D9 reported to the London Stock Exchange that it has entered into a binding agreement for the divestment of its interests in EMIC-1 for $42m (c. £33m).  And in Jauanry 2025, D9 divested Aqua Comms for net proceeds of $48m (c.£40m).