Saudi Investment Nears $1bn for Syria's Digital Link

Syria's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdulsalam Haykal, said in an interview with CNBC Arabia that Saudi investment in Syria's telecom sector is nearing $1 billion through the Silk Link project. He said the project aims to build a new backbone network connecting different regions of Syria, and could open a new data route linking the Mediterranean to Asia through Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

A New Regional Data Corridor

Haykal noted that the three countries are working toward establishing a new regional data gateway, with a new agreement on linking data routes expected to be announced in the coming days. According to the minister, this connection extends beyond local infrastructure development to strengthening Syria's position as a corridor for data traffic between two continents.

Scale of Targeted Investment

The minister said the total targeted investment for developing Syria's telecom infrastructure is estimated at $4.5 billion, of which around $2 billion has already been committed. He added that a new telecom license granted to Zain is expected to generate around $750 million for the Syrian state treasury.

Academic Assessment

Dr. Mousab Shbeeb, a professor at the Faculty of Informatics Engineering at Idlib University, told the newspaper Al-Watan that the Saudi investment carries significance beyond its direct financial value, particularly as Syria needs to rebuild and modernize its digital infrastructure. He said the main advantage of the Silk Link project lies not only in improving internet quality inside Syria, but in leveraging the country's geographic position to become a corridor for data traffic between the Mediterranean and Asia, through links with Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Shbeeb added that completing this regional link could pave the way for a new regional data gateway, enabling diversification of data transmission routes, improving network reliability, reducing dependence on limited routes, and boosting the potential to attract new investment in data centers and cloud services.

Impact of the Zain License

Shbeeb said the new telecom license granted to Zain, expected to generate around $750 million for the Syrian treasury, carries both financial and developmental importance, as it could provide a significant revenue source for the treasury while boosting market competition and expanding options for subscribers.

He concluded that the success of these projects will not be measured solely by the amount of funds invested, but by their impact on service quality, lower communication costs, expanded coverage, and a more attractive environment for digital investment.