Caribbean-Bermuda U.S. (CBUS): A regional submarine cable linking Bermuda and the Virgin Islands
The Caribbean-Bermuda U.S. (CBUS) submarine cable is a fiber-optic system connecting
St. David’s, Bermuda, and
Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. With a recorded length of 1,700 kilometers, the cable serves as an important regional link in the Caribbean, facilitating international telecommunications and data exchange. It has been listed as in service since 2009, according to GeoCables data.
What stands out about CBUS is the scarcity of publicly disclosed technical details. While its ownership is shared by Liberty Networks and Orange, information about its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology has not been made available. This lack of transparency limits the ability to fully assess the cable’s capabilities, leaving room for speculation and uncertainty in industry discussions.
Quick facts
| Name | Caribbean-Bermuda U.S. (CBUS) |
| Length | 1,700 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2009 (GeoCables database) |
| Owners | Liberty Networks, Orange |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | St. David’s (Bermuda); Tortola (Virgin Islands (U.K.)) |
Route
The CBUS cable connects two strategic landing points in the Atlantic: St. David’s in Bermuda and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Bermuda serves as a hub for transatlantic cables, while Tortola is a key node in the Caribbean region. This route spans approximately 1,700 kilometers across the ocean floor, traversing a corridor that is significant for regional and international connectivity.
Both landing points host other submarine cables. At St. David’s, CBUS shares the landing site with
Gemini Bermuda and
GlobeNet, which are major transatlantic systems. Tortola, on the other hand, is also connected to the
Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) and the
Pacific Caribbean Cable System (PCCS), providing redundancy and alternative routes for data traffic.
Why it was built and what it carries
CBUS was likely built to enhance connectivity between Bermuda and the Caribbean, providing a direct route for telecommunications and data exchange. While specific details about its design capacity and traffic types are not publicly disclosed, it can be assumed that the cable supports a mix of voice, data, and internet traffic. Its role as part of a broader network owned by Liberty Networks and Orange suggests it contributes to regional and international connectivity for both residential and enterprise customers.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that CBUS became ready for service in 2009. This date aligns with a period of increased investment in regional submarine cable infrastructure. However, no conflicting dates have been identified in industry sources, and further historical details about its construction, commissioning, or upgrades are not publicly available.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available sources do not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, or specific technology used in CBUS. Without documentation from the operators, attributing these details would be speculative. Given its ownership by Liberty Networks and Orange, it is reasonable to assume that the cable employs modern optical transmission technologies, but the exact specifications remain unknown.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency for CBUS is approximately 8.3 milliseconds over its 1,700-kilometer wet segment. This corresponds to a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor of 16.7 milliseconds, assuming ideal conditions and light traveling through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 kilometers per second.
However, real-world latency measurements from remote probes show significantly higher RTTs. For the full internet path between Tortola and St. David’s, the minimum observed RTT is 63.6 milliseconds, with an average of 67.7 milliseconds over 60 checks. This discrepancy reflects the impact of additional factors, such as land-based network segments, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
CBUS benefits from redundancy at both landing points. In Bermuda, Gemini Bermuda and GlobeNet provide alternative routes for transatlantic and regional traffic. Similarly, Tortola is connected to the ECFS and PCCS cables, which serve the Caribbean region. If CBUS were to experience an outage, traffic could be rerouted through these systems, minimizing disruption.
Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized cable ships equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to locate and fix the fault. Given the relatively short length of CBUS, repair operations would likely be faster than for longer transoceanic systems.
Bottom line
- CBUS connects Bermuda and Tortola over a 1,700-kilometer route.
- Owned by Liberty Networks and Orange, it has been in service since 2009.
- Technical details such as design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier are not publicly disclosed.
- Latency measurements show real-world RTTs significantly higher than theoretical values, reflecting the full internet path.
- Redundancy is provided by other cables at both landing points, including Gemini Bermuda, GlobeNet, ECFS, and PCCS.