Americas-I North: A legacy submarine cable linking the United States
The Americas-I North submarine cable, owned by AT&T, spans 2012 kilometers and connects
Magen’s Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands to
Vero Beach, Florida. It has been listed as in service since 1994, according to GeoCables records. While the cable’s design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology are not publicly disclosed, its continued operation suggests it remains functional within the broader network infrastructure of the region.
What makes Americas-I North noteworthy is its age and role in a corridor with multiple other cables, including
Columbus-II b and
Taino-Carib at Magen’s Bay, and
Bahamas 2 and
TAM-1 at Vero Beach. The cable was likely built to support growing telecommunications demand between the continental United States and the Caribbean in the early 1990s, but details about its current utilization or upgrades remain unclear without operator documentation.
Quick facts
| Name | Americas-I North |
| Length | 2012 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 1994 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | AT&T |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Magen’s Bay (United States), Vero Beach (United States) |
Route
The Americas-I North cable connects Magen’s Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands to Vero Beach, Florida. Magen’s Bay serves as a landing site for other cables such as Columbus-II b and Taino-Carib, while Vero Beach hosts connections for Bahamas 2 and TAM-1. This corridor links the Caribbean to the continental United States, facilitating regional and international communication.
The cable’s route spans diverse marine environments, requiring careful surveying and installation to ensure stability and reliability. As with most submarine cables, it is likely buried in shallow waters near the shore to protect against external damage, such as from fishing activities or anchor strikes.
Why it was built and what it carries
Americas-I North was built during a period of rapid expansion in global telecommunications infrastructure in the early 1990s. Its purpose was to enhance connectivity between the U.S. mainland and the Caribbean, addressing increasing demand for voice and data services. While specific details about its current traffic are unavailable, it likely continues to carry a mix of regional and international communications, supporting businesses, governments, and consumers in the region.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that Americas-I North was ready for service in 1994. This date aligns with the broader timeline of submarine cable development in the 1990s, when operators were building systems to meet the growing need for global connectivity. However, industry sources occasionally report discrepancies in cable commissioning dates. If conflicting information exists, it could stem from differences in definitions of "ready-for-service" (e.g., physical completion versus operational readiness) or delays in documentation.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology of Americas-I North are not publicly disclosed. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to confirm whether the cable has been upgraded since its initial deployment. Given its age, it likely uses older optical technologies compared to modern cables, which now feature higher fiber counts and advanced transmission systems.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way light propagation latency for Americas-I North’s 2012 km length is approximately 9.9 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 19.7 milliseconds. These calculations assume light travels through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 km/s. Real-world latency is higher due to additional factors such as land-based network segments, terminal equipment processing, and routing.
Live measurements from remote probes show significantly higher RTTs for paths involving Magen’s Bay, ranging from 136.3 ms (Sao Paulo) to 266.0 ms (Singapore). These values reflect the full internet path, including terrestrial and other submarine cable segments, rather than the isolated performance of Americas-I North.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Americas-I North were to experience a fault, redundancy in the corridor is provided by other submarine cables landing at Magen’s Bay and Vero Beach. At Magen’s Bay, Columbus-II b and Taino-Carib offer alternative routes, while Vero Beach hosts connections for Bahamas 2 and TAM-1. Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized cable ships equipped with grappling tools and splicing equipment. Repairs can take weeks depending on the nature of the fault, weather conditions, and availability of repair vessels.
Bottom line
- Americas-I North is a submarine cable owned by AT&T, connecting Magen’s Bay to Vero Beach.
- It spans 2012 km and has been in service since 1994, according to GeoCables records.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology details are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency is approximately 9.9 ms one-way, but real-world RTTs are much higher due to additional network factors.
- Redundancy is provided by other cables in the corridor, including Columbus-II b, Taino-Carib, Bahamas 2, and TAM-1.