ICT Minister Raafat Hendy: Egypt Eyes Data Center Hub Status as 20 Submarine Cables Link Europe and Asia
Egypt is seeking to turn its strategic position on global data routes into a larger data center and digital services industry, as the country looks beyond its traditional role as a transit point for internet traffic between Europe and Asia.
Speaking at FDC Summit 2026, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendy said around 20 submarine cables pass through Egypt, carrying data between Europe and Asia and giving the country a significant connectivity advantage that could support the expansion of its data center industry.
Hendy said Egypt now wants to build on this infrastructure by developing more data centers and strengthening its position as a hub for exporting digital and data-driven services.
The shift comes as demand for computing capacity accelerates with the expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud services and digital government platforms.
According to Hendy, Egypt’s ambitions in artificial intelligence are directly linked to the availability of high-performance computing capacity, making data centers an increasingly important part of the country’s digital infrastructure.
He described data centers as one of the key arteries of the digital economy, supporting both the continuity of government services and Egypt’s readiness for the growing computing requirements of the digital economy.
The strategy also reflects a broader effort to capture more economic value from Egypt’s position at the crossroads of international connectivity. Rather than relying primarily on data traffic passing through the country, Egypt is seeking to develop the infrastructure needed to process, host and serve digital workloads locally.
Hendy also linked the expansion of digital infrastructure to growing cybersecurity requirements, noting that the wider use of digital services and emerging technologies is creating new challenges for protecting data and ensuring business continuity.
Egypt is currently implementing the second edition of its National Cybersecurity Strategy, while work is underway on a third edition designed to address emerging threats.
The country is also expanding its cybersecurity capabilities to prepare for risks associated with artificial intelligence and quantum computing, as both technologies introduce new challenges for the future protection of digital infrastructure and data.