Apollo: Transatlantic Submarine Cable
Apollo is a submarine cable system connecting the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Spanning approximately 13,000 kilometers, it provides transatlantic connectivity with landing points in
Manasquan and
Shirley (United States),
Bude (United Kingdom), and
Lannion (France). Owned by Vodafone, Apollo has been operational since 2003, according to GeoCables records. However, its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technological details are not publicly disclosed.
What makes Apollo noteworthy is its role as part of the dense transatlantic corridor, which hosts numerous high-capacity cables. While its latency floor is well-defined by physics, real-world measurements highlight complexities in accurately assessing submarine cable performance due to artifacts in internet path probing. Additionally, Apollo's redundancy is supported by other cables landing at its endpoints, ensuring continuity in case of disruptions.
Quick facts
| Name | Apollo |
| Length | 13,000 km |
| Ready for Service (RFS) | 2003 (GeoCables database value) |
| Owner | Vodafone |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Bude (United Kingdom), Lannion (France), Manasquan (United States), Shirley (United States) |
Route
Apollo connects four landing points across the Atlantic Ocean: Bude in the United Kingdom, Lannion in France, and Manasquan and Shirley in the United States. Bude, a key landing site in Cornwall, is a hub for several submarine cables, including
2Africa,
Amitie, and
Grace Hopper. Lannion serves as a landing point for the
High-capacity Undersea Guernsey Optical-fibre (HUGO) cable. On the U.S. side, Manasquan and Shirley accommodate
Gemini Bermuda and
AEC-1, respectively. This geographical corridor is a critical link for transatlantic telecommunications.
Why it was built and what it carries
Apollo was built to enhance transatlantic connectivity, providing high-capacity data transmission between the United States and Europe. Its landing points in Bude and Lannion connect the UK and France to the U.S., supporting international data traffic for businesses, governments, and content providers. The cable plays a role in facilitating internet, cloud services, and other digital communications, although specific details about its capacity and technology are not publicly available.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate Apollo became operational in 2003. Industry sources occasionally report conflicting dates for submarine cables, but no alternative RFS year has been surfaced for Apollo. If discrepancies were to arise, they could stem from differences in definitions of "ready for service" (e.g., partial activation versus full commercial availability) or updates to cable segments. Vodafone's ownership is clear, but the supplier and technological specifics remain undisclosed.
Capacity and technology
Public information does not confirm Apollo's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or the specific transmission technology employed. Without operator documentation, attributing these parameters would be speculative. Given its transatlantic scope, Apollo likely uses advanced optical amplification and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), standard features in modern submarine cables.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency for Apollo's 13,000 km wet segment is approximately 63.7 milliseconds, with a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor of 127.5 milliseconds. Real-world RTT is higher due to land tails, terminal equipment, and routing complexities. Live measurements from GeoCables probes show an average RTT of 103.8 ms between Manasquan and Lannion, but the minimum recorded value of 93.5 ms is below the physical floor. This discrepancy is a measurement artifact, likely caused by rate-limited ICMP replies from intermediate routers. Analysts should interpret such values cautiously and avoid attributing them to cable performance.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
Apollo's endpoints are supported by alternative cables, ensuring redundancy in case of outages. At Bude, cables like 2Africa, Amitie, and Grace Hopper provide additional connectivity. Lannion is connected to HUGO, while Manasquan and Shirley have Gemini Bermuda and AEC-1, respectively. In the event of a fault, repair operations typically involve deploying specialized cable ships to locate, retrieve, and fix the damaged segment. Repairs can take weeks due to factors such as weather, cable burial, and the complexity of deep-sea operations.
Bottom line
- Apollo is a transatlantic submarine cable owned by Vodafone, operational since 2003.
- Its 13,000 km route connects the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
- Computed RTT floor is 127.5 ms, but live measurements show artifacts below this value.
- Redundancy is supported by other cables at its landing points.
Who owns and operates the Apollo submarine cable?
The Apollo submarine cable is owned by Vodafone and operated by them.
When was the Apollo cable put into service, and what is its current status?
Apollo was ready for service in 2003. The current status of the cable is unknown.
What are the key landing points of the Apollo submarine cable?
The Apollo cable lands at Lannion, France; Bude, United Kingdom; and Manasquan, NJ, and Shirley, NY, United States.
How long is the Apollo submarine cable, and what countries does it connect?
Apollo spans a total length of 13,000 km and connects France and the United States.
Can you compare Apollo to other transatlantic cables in terms of capacity?
Apollo has a fiber pair count that allows it to carry significant data traffic, but specific comparisons with other cables would require detailed technical specifications which are not publicly available for this cable.