EllaLink has announced that its next-generation, low-latency submarine cable system has now anchored in Sines, from where the connection to Latin America will be established. It is expected to be fully operational in the second quarter of this year, providing an unprecedented level of international connectivity between the two continents, reaching Europe via Portugal. This operation, involving an investment of €150 million and hailed as one of the key initiatives of Portugal's presidency of the European Commission, will open a data transmission corridor between the two continents, providing new opportunities for the European market. In addition to being the first direct high-speed submarine cable connection between Europe and Latin America, the EllaLink system also includes several terrestrial routes linking strategic data centers in Lisbon, Madrid, Marseille, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Fortaleza, in partnership with Equinix and Interxion.
By creating the shortest direct route between Europe and Latin America, avoiding passage through third countries, EllaLink reduces latency by 50% compared to the current infrastructure, achieving a real value of less than 60 ms between Portugal and Brazil.
During the first months of 2021, EllaLink will strengthen its network so that it can be fully operational by the end of the second quarter. Connections are planned with the island of Madeira and Cape Verde, as well as with Marseille, which will increase connectivity with Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Other potential connection points are already being studied in Mauritania, Morocco, French Guiana, and the Canary Islands.
