Ooredoo Group has announced plans to spin off its international subsea cable unit this week.

As part of these plans, the Qatari telco announced the formation of Ooredoo Fibre Networks (OFN), a unit that will be led by Khalid Hassan Al-Hamadi as its chief executive officer.

The company said it expects to complete the carve-out process by 2027.

According to Ooredoo, OFN will serve as the company's specialized vehicle to "execute strategic investments in submarine cables and high-capacity terrestrial transport fiber, a substantial digital infrastructure opportunity offering attractive long-term returns."

The unit will include Ooredoo's international connectivity assets and projects under a dedicated platform, as the group pushes to meet the demand for resilient, high-performance data routes driven by hyperscalers, cloud providers, and AI platforms.

“International connectivity and subsea infrastructure are already among the most strategic digital assets in the world, and demand is accelerating with AI, cloud, and hyperscale growth. With the formation of OFN, and with Khalid Hassan Al-Hamadi at the helm, we are creating a focused platform to scale our investments in fiber and submarine cables, deliver attractive long-term returns, and cement Ooredoo’s position as a key data gateway between Asia, the Gulf, and Europe," said Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, group CEO, Ooredoo.

OFN is part of Ooredoo's RISE strategy, which the company says combines three investment horizons with the aim of delivering superior shareholder returns.

Fakhroo added that the company is looking to increase its international infrastructure and subsea cable business from three percent to 12 percent of group revenues over time.

At present, the carrier is building out its subsea and transport fiber network across the Gulf region. Its buildout includes the FIG subsea cable system, which is under development with Alcatel Submarine Networks and spans approximately 1,900 kilometers (1,181 miles).

The man tasked with leading the unit, Al-Hamadi, most recently served as managing director and CEO of Ooredoo Maldives, a role he has held since February 2022.