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UNIFI Communications, Inc. (USA), the Syrian Telecommunications Establishment (STE), and the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) have formally executed the Construction and Maintenance Agreement (C&MA) for UGARIT 2. The 240 km repeaterless submarine system will connect Pentaskhinos, Cyprus to Tartous, Syria, replacing the legacy 1995 cable and serving as a foundational digital bridge between Europe and the Middle East.
UGARIT 2 System Overview & Specifications
| Parameter | Project Details |
|---|---|
| System Route | Pentaskhinos, Cyprus ↔ Tartous, Syria (~240 km) |
| System Architecture | 240 km repeaterless submarine cable system |
| Fiber Pair Count | 24 fiber pairs |
| Capacity | 31 Tbps initial launch capacity | 370 Tbps maximum design capacity |
| Target Service Date (RFS) | Early 2028 |
| Landing Partners & Owners |
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| Key Technology Suppliers |
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| U.S. Regulatory Compliance | Developed under U.S. Treasury OFAC Specific License (SY-2024-1242538-1) |
Key Strategic & Operational Highlights
1. Generational Technological Upgrade
The original 1995 UGARIT cable operated on legacy SDH technology measured in megabits per second. UGARIT 2 introduces a 24-fiber-pair repeaterless design capable of scaling to 370 Tbps, leveraging coherent optical transmission across the 240 km Mediterranean corridor.
2. U.S. OFAC Clearance & Clean Network Compliance
Development began in 2024 under specific license SY-2024-1242538-1 from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Prime contractor UNIFI Communications ensured the supply chain utilizes equipment exclusively from U.S.-allied manufacturers.
3. Rebuilding Syria's Transit Gateway
Alongside regional terrestrial modernization initiatives like SilkLink, UGARIT 2 establishes Syria as a strategic digital hub connecting Mediterranean subsea networks onward to the Gulf region and Asia.
4. Turnkey Marine & Factory Execution
Marine route surveys and wet plant manufacturing are actively underway, with cable production led by Prysmian (NSW), offshore installation managed by Elettra TLC, and Phase 1 DWDM line systems provided by Nokia.
Partner Profile: UNIFI Communications, Inc.
Headquartered at One World Trade Center in New York City, UNIFI Communications, Inc. is a U.S.-based international telecommunications carrier and AI edge infrastructure provider. Founded in 1999 by Founder and CEO Adrian Shatku, the company operates across more than 70 countries, specializing in carrier-grade voice, data, and subsea fiber connectivity in frontier and high-barrier markets.
| Corporate Parameter | Specification / Details |
|---|---|
| Global Headquarters | One World Trade Center, New York, NY, USA |
| Founding & Leadership | Founded in 1999 | Adrian Shatku (Founder, Chairman, and CEO) |
| Regulatory Authorizations | Authorized under U.S. FCC Section 214; holds U.S. Treasury OFAC specific license SY-2024-1242538-1 and Commerce BIS export approvals |
| Carrier & Network Reach | Serves 450+ telecom operators and providers across 70+ countries |
| Role in UGARIT 2 Project | Prime Contractor and 5% Equity Co-Owner |
Frontier Market Connectivity
UNIFI specializes in navigating complex regulatory frameworks to establish subsea and terrestrial fiber highways in post-sanctions recovery zones and high-growth transit corridors.
Clean Network Compliance
All optical line systems, DWDM terminals, and wet plant equipment deployed by UNIFI are sourced exclusively from U.S.-allied manufacturers to ensure alignment with international Clean Network standards.
Regulatory Framework: U.S. Treasury OFAC Licensing vs. Project Funding
A critical legal aspect of the UGARIT 2 agreement is understanding the exact role of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC is a financial regulatory and sanctions enforcement agency; it does not provide grant funding or capital financing for infrastructure projects.
Instead, OFAC granted the essential legal authorization—specifically License SY-2024-1242538-1—that enabled a U.S. entity to legally execute the project:
Understanding OFAC's Legal Function in the UGARIT 2 Framework
- Specific License Authorization (SY-2024-1242538-1): Because Syria was subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions when development commenced in 2024, American companies were prohibited from executing contracts with state entities like the Syrian Telecommunications Establishment (STE) without explicit federal permission. OFAC's specific license provided UNIFI with the legal authority to negotiate, construct, and co-own the system.
- Private & Consortium Capitalization: The UGARIT 2 project is commercially funded by its consortium partners—UNIFI Communications, STE, and CYTA—with UNIFI serving as Prime Contractor and holding a 5% equity stake in the wet plant.
- Department of Commerce (BIS) Integration: Alongside OFAC's financial regulatory clearance, UNIFI secured export licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to legally ship advanced subsea cabling (Prysmian) and DWDM optical equipment (Nokia) into Syrian territory.
By navigating and fulfilling all OFAC and BIS regulatory requirements, UNIFI established a legal blueprint for international private capital and technology to re-engage with Syria's telecommunications sector under its modernized economic framework.
