EllaLink wins the World Communication Awards 2025 Submarine Networks Award

EllaLink is proud to announce that it has been named winner of the Submarine Networks Award at the World Communication Awards 2025 in London. This new category was introduced to recognise the vital role of submarine cable systems in the global digital ecosystem, and EllaLink’s selection as the winner underscores the strategic importance of the direct link between Europe and Latin America.

The World Communication Awards have long been regarded as a global benchmark for excellence and innovation in telecommunications. By distinguishing EllaLink in a category dedicated specifically to submarine networks, the judges have highlighted both the quality of the underlying engineering and the broader impact of the EllaLink system on markets, research and society.

At the heart of this recognition is the unique design of the EllaLink network. Connecting Sines, Portugal, directly to Fortaleza, Brazil, EllaLink offers a low-latency, high-capacity route that bypasses the traditional detour via North America.

This architecture reduces latency between Europe and Latin America and provides a diverse, resilient path that helps decentralise global internet infrastructure. The system was conceived from the outset to support demanding applications in content delivery, financial services, cloud, research and education.

The judges cited EllaLink’s combination of network expansion and innovative sensing technology as a key factor in their decision. Over recent years, EllaLink has not only consolidated its role as a primary transatlantic route but has also introduced advanced capabilities that go beyond pure connectivity. One of the most visible examples is the integration of sensing technologies that transform the cable into a powerful tool for marine and environmental research.

Through initiatives such as SUBMERSE and collaborations with European and international research communities, the EllaLink infrastructure now contributes to oceanography, climate science and geophysical monitoring. By leveraging optical fibre infrastructure to capture and distribute environmental data, EllaLink helps scientists better understand seismic activity, ocean conditions and long-term climate patterns. This dual role—commercial backbone and scientific sensor—was recognised by the WCA judges as a meaningful societal contribution.

This award also honours the excellence of the EllaLink engineering and operations teams. Designing, deploying and operating a state-of-the-art submarine cable system across the Atlantic requires deep technical expertise, meticulous planning and a culture of continuous improvement. From route engineering and wet plant design to terrestrial integration, network management and resiliency planning, EllaLink’s team has consistently focused on performance, reliability and security.

In parallel, the team has driven upgrades and extensions to ensure the platform remains ahead of customer requirements. Capacity expansions, new service features and strengthened interconnection with data centres and internet exchanges on both sides of the Atlantic have further increased the value of the EllaLink ecosystem. These efforts enable customers to build low-latency architectures and support latency-sensitive applications while benefiting from a robust, diverse infrastructure.

Winning the Submarine Networks Award is therefore more than a trophy; it is a validation of EllaLink’s strategic vision. It confirms that a direct, diverse and open route between Europe and Latin America is not only commercially relevant but also critical for regional digital autonomy and resilience. It also demonstrates that subsea infrastructure can be a platform for innovation that reaches far beyond telecoms, connecting the digital economy with scientific discovery and environmental stewardship.

EllaLink shares this recognition with its customers, partners and stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic. The award reflects a collective effort to design and operate a system that is secure, fast, diverse and open, in line with EllaLink’s core values. It also reinforces the company’s commitment to continued investment in new capabilities, cooperative research projects and further enhancements to its network footprint.

As demand for capacity, resilience, and low-latency connectivity continues to grow, EllaLink will continue to expand its role as a strategic bridge between continents. This World Communication Awards 2025 win is an important milestone along that journey, and a strong motivation for the entire team to push the boundaries of what a submarine cable system can deliver for customers, communities and the planet.