Rostelecom and VEB Ventures (part of VEB.RF) created a joint venture Atlas to build a new backbone fiber optic communication line TEA NEXT (New Generation Europe–Asia Transit). Its design capacity is 96 dark fibers, the warranty period for the cable is up to 2045, according to the representatives of Rostelecom’s press office.

The fiber-optic communication line will connect the western and eastern borders of Russia with links to the largest cities and outlets to the Russia– Mongolia and Russia– China borders. Rostelecom experts say that the new communication line “will provide transit system capabilities that are not available in any of the existing landlines of this scale and quality.”

Construction of the main segment of the line will begin in 2022. By 2025, Atlas plans to launch a set of services to lease physical backbone infrastructure. VEB Ventures believes that due to the creation of new infrastructure by 2030, about 30-35% of global Europe - Asia traffic will be able to go through Russia, according to Kommersant newspaper.

The total investments will amount to approximately $650 million (about RUB 47.9 billion) by the end of 2025. Part of the funds will be provided by the authorized capital of the joint venture. Initially, each of the founders of Atlas will invest six billion rubles. Also, negotiations are underway to attract external investors, including foreign ones.

Original (in Russian)