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ELLA

The ELLA (Feasibility Study for a direct Europe Link with Latin America) project is funded under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union for analysing the feasibility of a submarine communications cable linking Europe and Latin America that would improve collaboration between research and education communities in these countries and bring down connectivity costs. This would provide a direct connection via west Africa, thus releasing users from dependence on existing North Atlantic infrastructures connecting the US and Canada with Europe.

In addition to the feasibility study, the project also aims to secure support for achieving its goals, making it possible to create a consortium to build the cable.

The project will be headed by a consortium of European and Latin American National Research and Education Networks, NRENs: GARR (Italy), RedCLARA (Latin America), RNP (Brazil), FCCN (Portugal), INNOVA-T (Argentina) and RedIRIS. These NRENs will work together with public bodies and operators to analyse the situation and the possibility of laying a direct submarine cable between Europe and Latin America.