The two organisations signed a letter of intent on 29 September 2026 setting out a preliminary framework for the cooperation. The agreement is non-binding, and the planned services remain subject to a definitive agreement.
Under the proposed structure, CVTelecom would provide transport capacity between Lisbon and São Paulo, while DE-CIX would provide access to its interconnection ecosystems in Frankfurt, Madrid, Marseille, New York and São Paulo. CVTelecom would in turn gain access to DE-CIX services across those locations.
Cape Verde's mid-Atlantic location makes it a potential hub for connectivity between three regions — Southern Europe, West Africa and Latin America — that currently route much of their internet traffic through hubs further north. Both companies said the planned corridor is designed to provide more direct data routes that would improve performance and infrastructure resilience for networks in those regions.
Theresa Bobis, Head of Emerging Wholesale Markets at DE-CIX, said the collaboration aims to connect digital ecosystems across the three regions: "Together with Cabo Verde Telecom, we want to create a new interconnection corridor across the South Atlantic that brings digital ecosystems in Europe, Africa, and Latin America closer together. More direct data routes can improve performance, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and open up new opportunities for businesses and network operators across all three regions."
Isa Neves, CMO of Cabo Verde Telecom, described it as a step in strengthening Cape Verde's position as a connectivity gateway: "By combining CVTelecom's international connectivity capabilities with DE-CIX's global interconnection ecosystem, we aim to enhance connectivity, resilience, and access to digital services, creating new value for our customers while contributing to the continued digital development of Cape Verde and the wider West African region."
DE-CIX operates internet exchanges in 60 locations across Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. Frankfurt, its largest exchange, handles more than 48 Exabytes of data per year and connects close to 1,100 networks. CVTelecom was founded in 1995 and provides fixed, mobile and broadband services across the Cape Verde archipelago, including international connectivity through the EllaLink, SHARE and WACS submarine cable systems.
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