Sparkle, VDPC agree Barracuda subsea cable landing deal for 2028

Sparkle and Valencia Digital Port Connect (VDPC) have agreed to land the Barracuda subsea cable at Sparkle’s Genoa Landing Platform, creating the first direct submarine link between Spain and Italy. Backed by private equity firm Teset Capital, the 1,070km system will run between Valencia and Genoa as an open cable with 12 fibre pairs, each capable of 32 Tbps. The total project cost is estimated at €100 million, with operations planned to start in 2028.

By landing in Genoa, Barracuda will plug directly into Sparkle’s international network and major European internet exchange points, boosting capacity and lowering latency across the Mediterranean. VDPC avoids building its own landing infrastructure while gaining immediate access to European hubs, and Sparkle acquires infrastructure on the Valencia–Genoa segment plus colocation at the neutral Valencia Cable Landing Station, which can host Barracuda and up to three more systems. The deal is aimed at strengthening connectivity across the Iberian Peninsula and into the growing West African market, while positioning Genoa and Valencia as strategic digital gateways.