Sparkle to acquire infrastructure assets on the Barracuda submarine cable system

Deal Analysis

Telecom Italia Sparkle's acquisition of infrastructure assets on the Barracuda submarine cable system, specifically the Valencia-Genoa segment and colocation in the Valencia Cable Landing Station, represents a strategic move to bolster its connectivity within the Iberian Peninsula. This acquisition from Valencia Digital Port Connect will enhance Sparkle's existing network infrastructure and expand its reach in a key European market. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, the deal underscores Sparkle's commitment to strengthening its position as a global service provider of IP, Data, Cloud, Data Center, Mobile and Voice solutions. The acquisition is notable for its focus on submarine cable infrastructure, a critical component of global data transmission networks. The deal involves a 32 MW data center capacity, suggesting a significant investment in supporting high-bandwidth applications and services. This move aligns with the increasing demand for data center capacity and low-latency connectivity, particularly in regions experiencing rapid digital transformation. The acquisition strengthens Sparkle's presence in Spain, a strategically important location for connecting Europe with Africa and the Americas.

Sparkle acquires infrastructure assets on the Barracuda submarine cable system.
The deal includes colocation in the Valencia Cable Landing Station.
The acquisition involves 32 MW of data center capacity.
The deal strengthens Sparkle's position in the Iberian Peninsula.

Market Context: The data center sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing demand for cloud computing, data storage, and high-bandwidth connectivity. Submarine cables are a critical component of this infrastructure, facilitating global data transmission and enabling international connectivity.

Source Intelligence

KEY DETAILS

The Barracuda project will establish the first direct high-capacity, low-latency submarine route between Spain and Italy, creating a 1,070 km digital bridge between Valencia and Genoa. "The Barracuda project will establish the first direct high-capacity, low-latency submarine route between Spain and Italy, creating a 1,070 km digital bridge between Valencia and Genoa."

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Deal Size

The project has an estimated total investment of €100 million

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Capacity

Barracuda will feature 12 fibre pairs, each with a capacity of 32 Tbps (Terabits per second).

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Location

Sparkle will also acquire infrastructure assets on the Barracuda submarine cable system between Valencia and Genoa and colocation in Valencia Cable Landing Station

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Announcement

30 January 2026

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COD

operations expected to begin in 2028

PARTIES MENTIONED IN SOURCE

S

Sparkle buyer

"Sparkle will also acquire infrastructure assets on the Barracuda submarine cable system between Valencia and Genoa and colocation in Valencia Cable Landing Station"

V

Valencia Digital Port Connect seller

"Sparkle , the first international service provider in Italy and among the top global operators, and Valencia Digital Port Connect (VDPC), the Spanish telecommunications infrastructure company developing the Barracuda submarine cable project in collaboration with private equity firm Teset Capital, announce a strategic agreement to land the Barracuda submarine cable at Sparkle’s Genoa Landing Platform."

T

Teset Capital investor

"Sparkle , the first international service provider in Italy and among the top global operators, and Valencia Digital Port Connect (VDPC), the Spanish telecommunications infrastructure company developing the Barracuda submarine cable project in collaboration with private equity firm Teset Capital, announce a strategic agreement to land the Barracuda submarine cable at Sparkle’s Genoa Landing Platform."

high quality Enriched Feb 19, 2026