Alpal-2: connecting Algeria and Spain
Alpal-2 is a submarine telecommunications cable linking Algeria and Spain, with landing points at
El Djamila, Algeria, and
Ses Covetes, Spain. Spanning 312 kilometers, the cable is jointly owned by Algerie Telecom, Orange, Sparkle, and Telxius. Operational since 2002, it facilitates international connectivity between North Africa and Europe.
While the cable's basic details are clear, several aspects remain uncertain or undisclosed in public sources, including its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technological specifications. These gaps highlight the limitations of publicly available data on submarine infrastructure, especially for cables commissioned in the early 2000s.
Quick facts
| Name | Alpal-2 |
| Length | 312 km |
| Ready for service | 2002 (GeoCables database value; no conflicting industry sources surfaced) |
| Owners | Algerie Telecom, Orange, Sparkle, Telxius |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | El Djamila (Algeria), Ses Covetes (Spain) |
| Other cables at Ses Covetes | Penbal-5 |
Route
Alpal-2 connects El Djamila, a coastal area near Algiers, Algeria, to Ses Covetes, located on the southern coast of Mallorca, Spain. This route provides a direct link between North Africa and the Balearic Islands, facilitating communication and data exchange between the two regions. The cable's corridor is relatively short compared to transoceanic systems, which often span thousands of kilometers.
The landing point at Ses Covetes is shared with another submarine cable, Penbal-5, which connects Mallorca to mainland Spain. This co-location allows for potential redundancy and network optimization for traffic between North Africa and Europe.
Why it was built and what it carries
Alpal-2 was built to enhance connectivity between Algeria and Spain, supporting the growing demand for international telecommunications in the early 2000s. The cable likely carries a mix of internet, voice, and data traffic, serving both consumer and enterprise needs. Its ownership by multiple operators suggests that it plays a role in wholesale capacity markets, enabling carriers to lease bandwidth for cross-border services.
The cable's strategic importance lies in its role as a direct link between North Africa and Europe, bypassing mainland France and other intermediate routes. This direct connection reduces latency and provides a more efficient path for data exchange.
History: what can be established
According to the GeoCables database, Alpal-2 was ready for service in 2002. No conflicting information from industry sources has been identified, making this date the most reliable reference for its commissioning. The cable was developed during a period of rapid expansion in submarine telecommunications infrastructure, driven by increasing internet adoption and globalization.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available data does not disclose Alpal-2's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technological features. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to state these parameters definitively. Given its installation in 2002, it is likely that the cable employs older-generation optical transmission technology compared to modern systems, but this remains speculative without further information.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency calculations for Alpal-2 indicate a one-way light propagation time of approximately 1.5 milliseconds over its 312-kilometer length, corresponding to a round-trip time (RTT) floor of about 3.1 milliseconds. This calculation assumes light traveling through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 kilometers per second.
Live latency measurements conducted via remote probes show significant variability. For the Ses Covetes to El Djamila path, the minimum recorded latency was 0.5 milliseconds, with an average of 5.2 milliseconds over 71 checks. However, the minimum value is below the physical floor and should be treated as a measurement artifact, likely caused by rate-limited ICMP replies from intermediate routers. The El Djamila to Ses Covetes path exhibited a minimum latency of 11.0 milliseconds and an average of 11.5 milliseconds over 11 checks. These values reflect the full internet path, including land tails, terminal equipment, and routing, rather than the cable's intrinsic performance.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Alpal-2 were to experience a fault, redundancy within the region would likely rely on alternative cables such as Penbal-5, which also lands at Ses Covetes and connects Mallorca to mainland Spain. Other regional cables may provide additional backup routes, though the specifics depend on the broader network topology and interconnection agreements among operators.
Submarine cable repairs typically involve deploying specialized cable ships equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to locate and retrieve the damaged section. Repairs can take weeks or even months, depending on the nature of the fault and weather conditions. Given its relatively short length, Alpal-2 may be quicker to repair than longer transoceanic systems.
Bottom line
- Alpal-2 is a 312-kilometer submarine cable linking Algeria and Spain, operational since 2002.
- Owned by Algerie Telecom, Orange, Sparkle, and Telxius, it provides direct connectivity between North Africa and Europe.
- Key technical details, including design capacity and fiber pair count, are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency floor is approximately 3.1 milliseconds RTT; live measurements reflect full internet path variability.
- Redundancy options include Penbal-5 at Ses Covetes and other regional cables.