EXA Infrastructure, recognised as the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America, has announced the launch of Project Visegrád. This landmark fibre deployment is poised to reshape the connectivity landscape across Central Europe.
Inspired by the historic political and cultural alliance of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary, Project Visegrád stands as the most significant pan-European backbone fibre initiative in the region over the last quarter-century.
The project aims to establish high-capacity international fibre routes, creating direct links between Warsaw, Poznań, Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest to EXA Infrastructure’s hyperscale backbone based in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Vienna. Simultaneously, the company plans to bolster its metro fibre networks in Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava, and Berlin, effectively connecting prominent carrier-neutral data centres.
Jim Fagan, CEO of EXA Infrastructure, stated, "Central Europe is one of the fastest-growing digital economies in Europe, yet its international connectivity has historically lagged Western Europe. With Project Visegrád, we are building the resilient, scalable backbone needed to unlock the region’s full potential, while extending EXA’s reach into new growth markets across the Baltics, Balkans, Turkey, and beyond."
The backbone's construction involves HDPE ducts featuring multiple microducts, designed to maximise scalability. The initial deployment will utilise 216-fibre Corning Ultra G.652D cable, with the microduct design allowing for seamless transitions to next-gen technologies like hollow-core fibre.
Significantly, routes will predominantly be located within protected corridors neighbouring essential infrastructure like the Druzhba oil pipeline, ensuring ultra-high availability and safeguarding against disruptions.
Further affirming the project's potential, Jim Fagan added, "This infrastructure will set a new benchmark for optical performance and resilience in Central Europe. It will also provide a future-proof foundation for hyperscalers, carriers, and enterprises that demand the highest standards of connectivity."
A phased completion schedule forecasts initial route readiness by mid-2026, with additional sections anticipated through 2027, marking an exciting digital evolution for Central Europe.
