Rabat — Spain has awarded Vodafone UK a communication services contract for the team studying the proposed tunnel connecting Spain and Morocco through the Gibraltar Strait.
Spanish media sources report that the government signed the contract in mid-August.
The contract will provide voice and data communication services for approximately 15 experts working to revive this initiative, which has been under study for more than 40 years.
Official data shows the contract costs about 24,000 euros annually (over 29,000 euros including taxes) and runs for two years.
The contract includes a 1-gigabit network, 24-hour surveillance system, and equipment for the team, including landlines, mobile phones, smart devices, and advanced technical services to ensure work continuity.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Transport Ministry has tasked public company “EniCo” with conducting a financial feasibility study for the project.
The European “Next Generation” fund is set to finance this 350,000-euro study.
Researchers will examine passenger and freight flows, identify potential station locations in Algeciras or Tarifa, and explore private sector financing possibilities similar to the English Channel tunnel.
On the technical side, Spain has hired a German company specializing in tunnel construction to study geological challenges in the “Amp de Camarinal” area, one of the project’s most complex points.
These studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview before next summer. Current estimates suggest the tunnel’s actual construction may not begin until 2040.
This project ranks among the most ambitious between Europe and Africa, with a total length of approximately 40 kilometers. Twenty-eight kilometers would run underwater at depths reaching 300 meters.
Both countries aim for this passage to become a strategic corridor for transport, trade, and energy, though no agreement to begin construction exists yet.
The tunnel would create a direct link between the two continents, potentially transforming regional connectivity and economic relationships between North Africa and Europe.
