Gulf Bridge International (GBI) has chosen Nokia to deploy a new high-capacity terrestrial network designed to enhance regional and international connectivity across the Middle East. Built with Nokia’s 1830 Global Express (GX) optical platform, the infrastructure will deliver up to 50 Tbps of capacity and support 100G–400G services. The system will also function as a terrestrial complement for subsea backhaul, reinforcing critical routes between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The new network introduces a strategic terrestrial route through Iraq, providing an alternative to existing subsea corridors and improving regional resilience against outages. By leveraging Nokia’s optical technology, GBI aims to offer cloud providers, telecom operators, and enterprises faster, lower-latency, and more reliable access to digital services. This deployment forms a key part of GBI’s strategy to expand its presence as a carrier-neutral connectivity provider across the region.
Eng. Ahmad Mohamed Al-Kuwari, CEO of GBI, said: “By collaborating with Nokia and leveraging the latest 1830 GX platform, we are creating a robust, high-capacity network that strengthens regional resilience and supports digital transformation across key markets.”
- GBI is building a new terrestrial network through Iraq to connect Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
- Nokia’s 1830 GX optical platform will support 100G–400G services and 50 Tbps total capacity
- The infrastructure will enhance network resilience and enable low-latency services for cloud, carrier, and enterprise users
- The project complements GBI’s subsea assets and extends its reach across key digital corridors
- Nokia’s solution underpins regional efforts toward sustainable and scalable digital growth
“This partnership with GBI will shape the region’s next phase of digital growth,” said Roque Lozano, SVP of Network Infrastructure for the Middle East and Africa at Nokia. “Nokia’s 1830 GX Platform gives GBI the speed, scale, and resilience needed to keep pace with surging data demand.”
🌐 Analysis: GBI’s expansion through Iraq marks one of the first large-scale terrestrial builds in years linking Europe to the Gulf via land, offering diversity from congested subsea routes. Nokia continues to gain traction in Middle East optical deployments, following recent wins with regional carriers leveraging its WaveLogic 6 and GX platforms for 400G and 800G networks.
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