Maroc Telecom launches Loukkos fibre optic cable to Spain

Maroc Telecom has begun laying the Loukkos fibre optic international submarine cable between Asilah in Morocco and Rota in Spain. The aim is to diversify Morocco's connectivity, enhance the security of Maroc Telecom's international traffic and to cope with increasing traffic from broadband internet. The Loukkos cable will be 187 kilometres long and is due to commence operations in March 2012. The construction works will cost nearly MAD 143 million and will be borne entirely by Maroc Telecom. The suppliers are CanaLink and Alcatel Submarine Network (ASN). The Loukkos cable will have an initial capacity of 80 Gbps which will be expandable to 1,280 Gbps. This is Maroc Telecom's second submarine cable, the first being the Atlas Offshore which was laid in 2006. The new fibre optic land cable will ultimately connect Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso.