1 August 2025

Mauritania and EllaLink: Bridging Continents, Empowering a Digital Future

On Monday, July 28, 2025, EllaLink and the Government of Mauritania celebrated a defining milestone: the laying of the first stone for Mauritania’s second international subsea cable landing station in Nouadhibou.

This event marks far more than just the start of construction work—it’s a historic step toward securing Mauritania’s place as a regional leader in digital resiliency and intercontinental connectivity.

Ricardo Rodrigo, from EllaLink and the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania during the first stone ceremony.
Ricardo Rodrigo, from EllaLink and the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania during the first stone ceremony.

Mauritania’s geostrategic advantage

Mauritania sits at the crossroads of Africa and Europe. It is directly linked by land to Senegal, Mali, and Algeria, and now, through marine routes, will achieve robust, low-latency connections to Spain and Morocco. This unique position allows Mauritania to serve not only its own population but also as a critical redundancy point for neighbouring West and North African countries. 

For years, Mauritania has relied on a single international route—the ACE submarine cable—for its connection to the global internet. Any disruption to this cable has repeatedly led to widespread service outages, underscoring the country’s vulnerability. Backup terrestrial routes through Senegal and Mali, though useful, are technically and commercially constrained, resulting in persistent network congestion.

Despite these connectivity challenges, Mauritania’s commitment to digital transformation has been remarkable. The rapid digitalisation of government services and a continuously rising internet penetration rate – approaching 60% -highlight the growing demand for high-availability digital infrastructure. The national target: an ambitious 99.5% network uptime.

The EllaLink project – a strategic leap forward

The deployment of the EllaLink system in Mauritania is both ambitious and transformative: 

      • Direct Global Connection: The new cable landing station at Nouadhibou will host EllaLink’s high-capacity, low-latency subsea link directly to Madrid, providing an initial 200Gbps channel with significant expansion possibilities.
      • Geographical Diversity: By following a geographically distinct route from the ACE system, EllaLink fortifies the national internet with true route redundancy, ensuring service continuity even in the event of outages on existing paths.
      • Empowering Operators: The new infrastructure will not only provide national operators and institutions with reliable backup but also allow for expansion of telecom offerings, improved public services, and enhanced emergency preparedness.

Simultaneously, the establishment of a Tier III data centre in Nouakchott paves the way for Mauritania’s emergence as a preferred destination for global cloud, content, and tech giants seeking secure, world-class digital infrastructure on the west coast of Africa.

The foundation stone ceremony 

The ceremonial laying of the***********************************************************************@*****bl.spaces/1753782017629?context=%7B%22contextType%22%3A%22chat%22%7D” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”> first stone in Nouadhibou brought together Mauritania’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Public Sector Modernisation, senior government representatives, industry partners, and local media. The presence of so many stakeholders is testimony to the nationwide impact and significance of the project.

The event symbolised more than just physical construction – it underscored a shared vision for a resilient and innovative digital Mauritania, deeply connected to global opportunities and markets.

A Gateway for Africa

With this project, Mauritania is poised to become an essential digital gateway between Europe, North, and West Africa.

This increased resilience and capacity will:

      • Attract major technology and content providers.
      • Encourage investment and create skilled jobs.
      • Enable the country to maintain and accelerate its digital services for citizens and businesses.

CEF LOGO_EUBacked by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission, and in partnership with experienced technology providers, this flagship national project is a cornerstone in Mauritania’s digital strategy and long-term ambition.

EllaLink’s Commitment

For EllaLink, this is a moment of immense pride. The company remains committed to bridging continents, empowering nations, and supporting its partners as they build sustainable, high-impact connectivity for the next era.

Together, we are not just building subsea cables; we are creating bridges—bridges that span seas, connect ideas, and empower people.

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