CADMOS-2

Overview

CADMOS-2 is a submarine cable system spanning 250 km across the eastern Mediterranean Sea, directly connecting Cyprus and Lebanon. This regional system provides a dedicated telecommunications link between the two countries, emphasizing bilateral connectivity over broader regional or intercontinental reach. The cable is integral to enhancing communication infrastructure in the eastern Mediterranean, offering a focused point-to-point design that supports both nations' telecommunications needs. CADMOS-2 became ready for service in 2026, marking its entry into operation as a new addition to the region's submarine cable network.

The system's relatively short length reflects its specific purpose: to establish a direct and efficient route between Cyprus and Lebanon. This makes it distinct from longer cables in the area, which often serve multiple landing points or connect to distant regions. CADMOS-2 thus plays a targeted role in strengthening the digital linkage between these two neighboring countries.

Route and Landings

CADMOS-2 connects two landing points: Pentaskhinos in Cyprus and Beirut in Lebanon. Pentaskhinos, located on the southern coast of Cyprus, is a key site for submarine cable landings due to its strategic position in the eastern Mediterranean. Beirut, Lebanon's capital and largest city, serves as the country's primary telecommunications hub. These landing points were chosen for their importance in national and regional connectivity, ensuring that the cable directly supports major population and economic centers in both countries.

The route of CADMOS-2 traverses the eastern Mediterranean, a region characterized by its historical role as a crossroads of trade and communication. The cable's path avoids the complexities of longer, multi-landing systems, instead focusing on a direct undersea connection. This design minimizes latency and enhances reliability for users in both Cyprus and Lebanon. The 250 km distance is relatively short for submarine cables, underscoring the cable's specific role as a bilateral link rather than a transit system for broader traffic flows.

Ownership and History

CADMOS-2 is jointly owned by Cyta, the state-owned telecommunications operator of Cyprus, and the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications, which oversees public telecommunications infrastructure in Lebanon. This partnership reflects a bilateral public-sector collaboration aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries through improved digital connectivity. Both entities have a history of involvement in submarine cable projects, leveraging their expertise to implement this focused infrastructure.

The cable was announced as part of efforts to modernize and expand telecommunications links in the eastern Mediterranean. Its Ready for Service date in 2026 marks the culmination of planning and construction efforts designed to meet the growing demand for reliable, high-capacity connectivity between Cyprus and Lebanon. CADMOS-2 replaces or complements older systems, ensuring that the region remains equipped to handle future communication needs.

What Our Measurements Show

Our monitoring of CADMOS-2 has provided detailed insights into its performance. Over 359 measured corridors, the cable has demonstrated a best round-trip time (RTT) of 100 milliseconds and an average RTT of 159 milliseconds. These metrics highlight the system's efficiency in delivering low-latency connectivity between its two endpoints. The short length of the cable contributes to its performance, as fewer repeaters and simpler routing reduce potential delays.

Compared to other cables in the region, CADMOS-2's latency figures are consistent with its design as a direct, point-to-point system. The eastern Mediterranean is home to numerous submarine cables, many of which serve longer routes with multiple landings. CADMOS-2's focused design allows it to achieve competitive latency while providing a dedicated link between Cyprus and Lebanon. This performance underscores its role as a key infrastructure asset for bilateral communications in the region.