The Syrian Ministry of Communications and Technology signed an agreement on Monday, August 25, with the global consultancy firm Arthur D. Little (ADL), to cooperate on strategic projects currently underway at the ministry.
In a press release sent to Enab Baladi, the ministry said that ADL will provide advisory services in evaluating bids for two major infrastructure projects, “SilkLink” and “BarqNet.”
The ministry explained that both projects have attracted wide interest, with about 30 companies applying, including all major regional telecom operators.
It added that ADL will also advise the ministry on upcoming mobile network development projects in Syria.
Abdul Salam Haykal, Minister of Communications and Technology, stressed the importance of attracting expertise to support the implementation of large-scale national projects.
“Our ultimate goal is to provide every citizen and institution in Syria with reliable, high-quality internet and communications services in the shortest possible time,” Haykal said.
He added that the partnership brings added value to Syrians and strengthens the confidence of global and regional companies in the Syrian market. According to him, exposure to best practices worldwide will advance digital development, stimulate growth, and attract international investment.
Thomas Kuruvilla, Managing Partner for the Middle East and India at ADL and a member of the company’s Global Board, said the agreement with the ministry aimed not only to meet Syrians’ immediate needs but also to create a long-term regional impact.
Kuruvilla noted that ADL seeks to accelerate the execution of the SilkLink and BarqNet projects by leveraging its global expertise, playing a key role in developing Syria’s mobile communications sector.
He considered the cooperation a step toward advancing telecom infrastructure, promoting digitalization, supporting inclusive economic growth, and drawing international investment into Syria.
According to a press release received by Enab Baladi, the agreement was signed between the Ministry of Communications and ADL.
About Arthur D. Little
Founded in 1886, ADL operates in more than 40 countries, specializing in consultancy services. The company has extensive expertise in telecoms and technology and has helped governments and corporations worldwide design and implement advanced sector strategies.
The partnership with the Syrian ministry comes as part of its plan to modernize and expand the telecom sector, attract quality investment, and build infrastructure that places Syria on the global technology map, ensuring world-class services for citizens and sustainable growth, according to the ministry.
The two target projects
In May, the Syrian Ministry of Communications announced the SilkLink project in cooperation with international companies, aimed at developing a fiber-optic infrastructure (backbone) and building a regional internet hub in Syria.
Minister Haykal wrote on X on May 13 that the project “will put Syria on the digital map as a strategic corridor for data traffic between Asia and Europe.”
He described SilkLink as a vision for a digital future “worthy of Syrians, matching their abilities and aspirations, and a step toward reclaiming our historic role as a global crossroads for communication and exchange, much like our position on the ancient Silk Road.”
The project is planned to extend roughly 4,500 kilometers of fiber-optic cables, connecting major Syrian cities (Damascus and Aleppo) with switching hubs in Palmyra, the eastern and southern regions, and a landing point for submarine cables in Tartus.
It will also activate regional interconnection points with neighboring countries (Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey) while offering a new terrestrial route linking Europe and Asia, the minister said.
In June, the ministry launched a project to provide high-speed internet via fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology.
It issued a request for information for BarqNet, a project to extend fiber-optic connections directly to homes and offices across Syria, as part of a national digital infrastructure plan.
The ministry intends to execute BarqNet through a public-private partnership (PPP) with specialized local and international companies.
The project specifications include top-tier global equipment providers, with civil works for cable installation subcontracted to national companies under fair competition rules.
The ministry aims to complete coverage in several regions by the end of 2025, targeting 85% of Syrian households and institutions within two years.
BarqNet will connect directly to the national SilkLink backbone once completed, delivering one of the world’s leading experiences in ultra-fast internet under the government’s vision to improve quality of life and boost digital development.
The project is based on a dense, modern network design built to the highest technical standards to guarantee performance and reliability. It will adopt the “virtual unbundled local access” (vULA) model, allowing qualified companies to invest in the infrastructure and sell wholesale internet capacity to service providers, who will in turn offer competitive products to end-users.
The post Syrian Ministry of Communications signs agreement with global consultancy Arthur D. Little appeared first on Enab Baladi.