Google is in talks with Italy's government over plans to set up base stations in Sicily to develop infrastructure for a submarine fiber optic cable network across the Mediterranean.

First reported by Reuters, a cabinet undersecretary disclosed the discussion to reporters on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven advanced democracies.

"Google is very interested," Undersecretary Alessio Butti said. "We are holding talks over base stations in Sicily."

Further details have not been shared.

While it has invested in more than 30 subsea cables – many landing in Europe – this would only be the company’s second subsea fiber investment in the Mediterranean Sea.

Google is partnering with Telecom Italia's Sparkle submarine cable unit on the Blue-Ramen cable linking the Middle East with southern Europe and Asia.

First announced in 2021, the Blue portion of the cable connects Italy, Greece, and Israel. The first portion of the cable went live last year.

Sparkle’s portion of the cable, known as BlueMed, lands or is set to land in Yeroskipos, Cyprus; Bastia and Marseille, France; Chania, Greece; Tel Aviv, Israel; Genoa, Golfo Aranci, Palermo (Sicily), and Rome, Italy; Aqaba, Jordan; Benghazi, Libya; and Derna, Libya.

As well as Blue, Sicily the landing point for more than a dozen other subsea cables at multiple landing stations.