Silk Link Project: Syria’s New Digital Infrastructure with $1 billion Saudi investment

1. Official Launch

The Syrian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced the launch of the Silk Link Project to develop the national fiber optic network.
The project aims to increase Syria’s total internet capacity to 100 terabits per second (Tbps) and connect the country to a regional data transmission hub.
More than 4,500 kilometers of fiber optic cables will be laid to connect major cities with international communication centers in Damascus and Latakia, alongside the establishment of a regional data center in Damascus.

2. International and Strategic Dimension

• The project provides a land-based alternative to traditional submarine routes, protecting global data traffic from disruptions.
• It reduces latency to 30–40 milliseconds, ideal for sensitive applications such as financial trading and artificial intelligence.
• It enhances geopolitical balance by reducing reliance on a single data transit route.
• It transforms Syria into a global communications hub, offering transit services that generate hard currency revenues.

3. Saudi Vision for the Project

The Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced the signing of an investment agreement in 2026.
The project is seen as a “new data highway” linking Europe with the Gulf and Asia through Syria, reminiscent of the historic Silk Road.
It integrates with other initiatives such as satellite communications, digital government, cybersecurity, and national data centers.
It ensures network neutrality, making the infrastructure accessible to all companies equally, thereby boosting competition and lowering prices.

4. Economic and Social Value

• Short-term (1–2 years): Temporary job opportunities, injection of income into the local market, initial government revenues from licenses.
• Medium-term (3–5 years): Improved internet quality, private sector growth, direct state revenues, creation of new tech jobs.
• Long-term (after 5 years): Empowering the digital economy, emergence of new businesses such as e-commerce and online education, sustained government revenues.

5. Partnerships and Investment

• The process was competitive, resulting in the selection of STC (Saudi Telecom Company) as the preferred operator due to its financial and technical capabilities.
• The ministry engaged international consultants such as Arthur D. Little and DLA Piper to ensure legal and commercial transparency.
• The investment value is estimated at USD 10 billion, under a 25-year agreement with possible extension.
• Ownership is shared between a local and a foreign investor, with profits and revenues divided between the state and the joint company according to agreed ratios.

6. Technical Details

• The project includes the establishment of a fiber optic network across 278 sites in cities and provinces.
• It involves Cable Landing Stations (CLS), Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), and Data Centers (DCs).
• Advanced services will be provided, including Ethernet/IP/MPLS, dedicated wavelengths, and commercial models supporting both government and private entities.
• Implementation phases:
  • Phase 1: Operation of data centers and main exchange points within 6 months.
  • Phase 2: Addition of new centers within the first year.
  • Phase 3: Further expansion in the second year with new interconnection hubs.

Conclusion

On February 7, 2026, the Syrian Ministry of Communications signed an agreement with representatives of STC Saudi Arabia for the Silk Link / Siblik Link Project.

This project is not merely an upgrade of digital infrastructure; it is a strategic transformation that places Syria at the heart of global data flows and gives Saudi Arabia a pivotal role in investment and partnership.
It combines technical, economic, and social dimensions, serving as a cornerstone for a new digital economy in the region.

Syria news report