A new private telecom firm in Libya has unveiled plans for a new data center and 5G rollout in the country.

Ozone Telecommunications and Technology Group, also known as the O3 Group, officially launched operations in Benghazi this week (19 October) as Libya aims to establish itself as a regional digital hub connecting Europe and Africa.

The company expects that its new Tier III data center currently under construction will be operational in March 2027. Once completed, the facility will provide local hosting, cloud services, and business applications to telecommunications operators, financial institutions, government organizations, and corporate clients.

The Data Center Map lists eight data centers in Libya.

O3 also said it wants to establish a new 5G mobile operator supported by infrastructure for international connectivity, a fiber-optic network and a data center. A pilot launch of 5G services is scheduled for Benghazi by the end of 2026, with the commercial launch set for the second quarter of 2027.

Faisal Gergab, chairman of the O3 board, said: "We aim to provide Libya with advanced digital infrastructure and to create conditions that enable institutions and young people to participate fully in a modern and inclusive digital economy - one capable of driving prosperity within Libya and extending its impact to neighboring countries."

Meanwhile, the Medusa Submarine Cable System has reportedly completed the pre-laid shore end installation in Benghazi, which is the section of cable laid in advance between the land site and the offshore connection point.

The Medusa subsea cable is an open-access underwater fiber-optic communications network stretching approximately 8,760 km (with core routes around 7,100 km) across the Mediterranean Sea.

It is the longest submarine cable project in the Mediterranean, designed to link Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Libya has 13 cable landing stations along the country's north coast, but only four subsea cables connect them.

O3 will focus on developing international connectivity via the Medusa submarine cable.

Norman Albi, CEO of Medusa Submarine Cable System, said: "The cable landing in Benghazi marks another significant step in the development of the Medusa Mediterranean network, strengthening connectivity between North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. This reflects our ongoing commitment to expanding high-capacity international connectivity in the region."

Learn more about the data center market in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region and meet with other executives and experts in the region at the DCN Riyadh event next year.