Grid Telecom, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) of Greece, providing telecommunications services to national and international providers, announces its plan to build a new Cable Landing Station (CLS) on the southern coast of Crete.

Grid Telecom’s CLS will anchor new international subsea cable systems crossing the Eastern Mediterranean, connecting Greece and the broader Balkan Med region with other East and West destinations. As part of this development, Grid Telecom will provide diverse and highly reliable backhaul network to existing and new Data Centers on the island of Crete, the Greek mainland, as well as in neighbouring countries, leveraging its capabilities to interconnect securely through its extensive terrestrial networks and subsea cable systems MINOAS East-West and APOLLO East-West.

Grid Telecom intends to offer all the necessary infrastructure for the secure landing and operation of subsea fiber-optic cable systems in Greece, including services for housing the terminal equipment, as well as other equipment for the extension and interconnection of such systems with backhaul terrestrial and subsea telecommunications networks. Grid Telecom also intends to offer carrier house and hosting services. The partnership of Grid Telecom with prospective subsea cable operators will provide wholesale customers with open-access interconnection with leading edge data connectivity and international reach to Southeast Europe and beyond.

George Psyrris, Director of Grid Telecom says, “We are continually looking for ways to strategically expand our services to partners and customers. In this framework, our plans to build a new Cable Landing Station in Crete, will significantly support the implementation of new, international alternative routes. Moreover, it will enhance the strategic role of Crete as a crucial open access interconnection node in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans”.

Grid Telecom, established in January 2019, is a 100% subsidiary of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) of Greece. Grid Telecom, IPTO’s vehicle for providing telecom services to national and international providers, offers optical fiber connectivity including super high-speed capacity services from 10 to 100 Gbps via a state-of-the-art DWDM network, as well as colocation services within protected areas in IPTO’s substation sites, across Greece. Grid Telecom’s fiber optic network (terrestrial and submarine) currently exceeds 4,000 km and will increase to more than 6,000 km in the next five years, connecting the islands with the core network.