CANDALTA: A Short-Distance Submarine Cable Connecting Spanish Islands
The CANDALTA submarine cable links two key locations in Spain:
Alta Vista on the island of Gran Canaria and
Candelaria on Tenerife. With a length of 110 kilometers, it serves as a regional connection between these Canary Islands. Owned by Telefonica, the cable has been operational since 1999 according to GeoCables records and is currently listed as in service.
What makes CANDALTA notable is its role as a short-distance submarine cable in the context of the Canary Islands' telecommunications infrastructure. While its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology specifics are not publicly disclosed, its existence underscores the importance of inter-island connectivity. Additionally, the cable's latency characteristics reveal its physical limitations and the broader context of end-to-end internet paths.
Quick facts
| Name | CANDALTA |
| Length | 110 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 1999 (GeoCables database value; no conflicting industry sources surfaced) |
| Owner | Telefonica |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Alta Vista (Gran Canaria, Spain); Candelaria (Tenerife, Spain) |
| Other cables at Alta Vista | SAT-3/WASC, TRANSCAN-3 |
| Other cables at Candelaria | Pencan-8 |
| Computed one-way latency | ≈ 0.5 ms |
| Theoretical RTT floor | ≈ 1.1 ms |
🗺 Show CANDALTA on the interactive cable map
Route
CANDALTA connects Alta Vista on Gran Canaria to Candelaria on Tenerife, two of the Canary Islands located off the northwest coast of Africa. These islands are part of Spain and serve as important hubs for regional and international telecommunications. The cable's relatively short 110-kilometer length reflects its purpose as an inter-island link rather than a long-haul transoceanic system.
Why it was built and what it carries
CANDALTA was built to enhance connectivity between Gran Canaria and Tenerife, two of the most populous and economically significant islands in the Canary archipelago. The cable likely supports internet, voice, and data services for residential, commercial, and governmental users. Its role is integral to ensuring reliable communication and data transfer between the islands, which are separated by ocean and require submarine cables for high-capacity links.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that CANDALTA became ready for service in 1999. No conflicting information from industry sources has been identified, so this date is accepted as accurate. The cable has remained in service since then, contributing to the region's telecommunications infrastructure. Details about its construction, supplier, and initial deployment are not publicly available, limiting the ability to provide a comprehensive historical account.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity of CANDALTA, along with its fiber pair count and the specific technology used, has not been disclosed in public sources. Without operator documentation, attributing these values would be speculative. Given its relatively short length and regional focus, it is reasonable to assume that its capacity is tailored to meet the needs of inter-island traffic rather than large-scale international data transfer.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency for CANDALTA over its 110-kilometer length is approximately 0.5 milliseconds. The theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor for the wet segment is around 1.1 milliseconds. However, real-world end-to-end latency is higher due to factors such as land-based routing, terminal equipment processing, and network congestion. Live measurements from remote probes show significantly higher RTT values, ranging from 75.0 milliseconds (Minsk to Candelaria) to 281.1 milliseconds (Sydney to Candelaria). These figures reflect the full internet path and not the cable itself.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure, redundancy for CANDALTA is provided by other cables landing at its endpoints. At Alta Vista, SAT-3/WASC and TRANSCAN-3 offer alternative connectivity, while at Candelaria, Pencan-8 serves as an additional link. Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized vessels to locate, retrieve, and fix the damaged section. Given the cable's short length, repair operations would likely be more straightforward compared to longer transoceanic systems.
Bottom line
- CANDALTA is a 110-kilometer submarine cable connecting Gran Canaria and Tenerife in Spain.
- Owned by Telefonica, it has been operational since 1999 and is currently in service.
- Its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology specifics have not been disclosed.
- Computed one-way latency is approximately 0.5 ms, with real-world RTT significantly higher due to additional network factors.
- Redundancy is provided by other cables at Alta Vista and Candelaria.