Vodafone Group and Vodafone Ukraine are set to begin construction of the Kardesa submarine cable system across the Black Sea, a project that will bypass Russia and cost over €100 million. The backbone network is expected to become part of a new digital corridor connecting Europe and Asia, according to the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

• The main goal of the Kardesa project is to strengthen the reliability and security of communications in the Black Sea region and create an alternative route that avoids Russian territory.
• Kardesa will link Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia, adding an additional 500 Tbit/s of bandwidth capacity to the region. The Ministry of Digital Transformation noted that this expansion is critical for managing the growing data traffic generated by 5G networks, artificial intelligence, and streaming services.
• The new cable is expected to significantly enhance the resilience and stability of Ukraine’s telecommunications infrastructure, positioning the country as a key digital transit hub between Europe and Asia.
• In Europe, Vodafone serves as the project’s primary partner. The submarine section of the cable, which will run along the Black Sea seabed, will be financed in part by Vodafone Ukraine and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
• The project was first announced in 2022, with construction of the initial section in Bulgaria scheduled to begin in 2027. In Ukraine, all construction will take place exclusively within internationally recognized safe zones, depending on regional stability and security.
• The development of the Kardesa system will also include the build-out of ground infrastructure, such as new data centers and internet exchange points. According to the ministry, this will boost the digital economy, attract foreign investment, and create new jobs — particularly for engineers, project managers, and IT professionals.

In 2023, the European Union also discussed plans to build an undersea internet cable in the Black Sea to improve connectivity with Georgia and reduce dependence on routes passing through Russia. That project, aimed at protecting Europe’s digital infrastructure from sabotage by the aggressor state, envisioned a 1,100-kilometer cable connecting EU member states with the Caucasus via international waters. It was estimated to cost €45 million, with the European Investment Bank offering a €20 million grant under the European Commission’s Global Gateway initiative.