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A €93 million consortium effort backed by European Union funding replaces aging 2002-era infrastructure with a direct 320 Tbps fiber bridge connecting La Réunion to South Africa.
On September 2, 2026, French telecommunications leader Orange, in partnership with regional operators Telco OI (Free), Réunicable, and La Réunion Connectée, unveiled the development of ReuNION—a next-generation submarine cable system directly linking the French overseas island of La Réunion to South Africa.
Representing a total capital investment of €93 million ($108 million) and supported by the European Union, the ReuNION project is engineered to succeed the aging SAFE (South Africa Far East) cable commissioned in 2002. Slated for Ready for Service (RFS) status in 2028, ReuNION establishes a high-capacity, low-latency optical highway across the Indian Ocean to safeguard regional digital sovereignty and support exponential cloud and enterprise traffic growth.
1. ReuNION Cable System Specifications
| System Parameter | Project Specifications |
|---|---|
| System Name & Purpose | ReuNION Subsea Cable Project | Replacing SAFE & expanding Indian Ocean connectivity |
| Target Route | Direct subsea path from La Réunion (French Overseas Department) to South Africa |
| Design Capacity | 320 Terabits per second (Tbps) total capacity across 16 Fiber Pairs (20 Tbps per pair) |
| Project Capital Cost | €93 Million (~US$108 Million), including €30 million ($34.81m) from the ERDF, €20m ($23.21m) from the CEF, €36.6m ($42.47m) from the three telecoms firms, and €6.5 million ($7.54m) from the state. |
| Target Operational Date | 2028 (Ready for Service) |
| Consortium Members | Orange, Telco OI (Free / Axian Group), Réunicable, La Réunion Connectée |
| Public Co-Financing | European Union: Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) & European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) |
2. The Impending Lifespan End of the SAFE Cable
For over two decades, the 13,500 km SAFE (South Africa Far East) cable system served as the primary physical link bringing international broadband to La Réunion and Mauritius. However, subsea fiber assets operate on a typical 25-year economic and mechanical lifespan:
With 4G/5G mobile expansion, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) saturation, and local cloud adoption, bandwidth demand on La Réunion is multiplying annually—requiring a move from legacy gigabit-era capacity to ReuNION's 320 Tbps design capacity.
3. Industrial Execution & Division of Responsibilities
The ReuNION project brings together European marine and optical specialists to manage wet plant manufacturing, offshore deployment, and terrestrial landing operations:
Responsible for the physical arrival of the cable on La Réunion. Manages environmental and local permits, civil engineering at the shore site, construction of a secure Cable Landing Station (CLS), and terrestrial interconnection into the island's backhaul network.
Contracted to design and manufacture the wet plant, including the 16 fiber pair armor cable and high-power subsea repeaters, ensuring compliance with strict European technical and reliability standards.
Operates specialized cable ships to conduct marine route surveys, seabed clearing, deepwater laying, and nearshore burial techniques to protect the cable from commercial fishing and anchor drag.
4. European Funding & Outermost Region Sovereignty
As an Outermost Region (OMR) of the European Union situated in the Indian Ocean, La Réunion occupies a strategic geopolitical position. Ensuring uncompromised, sovereign digital infrastructure connecting European territory directly to major African financial hubs (Durban and Johannesburg) led to direct EU co-financing:
- Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital): Provides targeted EU grant funding designed to finance strategic cross-border and international subsea backbones connecting EU member territories.
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): Contributes regional development funds to equalize digital infrastructure standards between overseas departments and mainland Europe.
Project Roadmap & Looking Ahead
Following the formal execution of consortium agreements in September 2026, the ReuNION project immediately advances into detailed marine seabed surveys and environmental permitting. Factory manufacturing of the optical wet plant by ASN and civil works preparation by Orange on La Réunion will proceed in parallel, keeping the project on track for its 2028 Ready for Service milestone.
