Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP): A regional connectivity initiative
The Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP) is a submarine cable system designed to enhance connectivity among several islands in the Caribbean. Spanning approximately 225 kilometers, it connects multiple landing points across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Owned by Digicel, the cable is listed as in service, with its ready-for-service (RFS) year recorded as 2019 in the GeoCables database. However, public information about its design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology remains undisclosed, leaving some technical aspects of the cable uncertain.
What makes CARCIP particularly notable is its focus on regional inter-island connectivity rather than long-haul international routes. This localized approach aims to improve telecommunications infrastructure in smaller island nations, which often face challenges in accessing reliable and affordable connectivity. Despite its relatively short length, CARCIP plays a role in linking communities and supporting digital development in the Caribbean. However, live latency measurements suggest that the cable's real-world performance may be influenced by factors beyond the wet segment, such as terrestrial routing and network configurations.
Quick facts
Route
CARCIP connects nine landing points across two Caribbean nations. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the cable lands at Bequia, Canouan, Chateaubelair, Kingstown, Mustique, Owia, and Union Island. In Grenada, it lands at Carriacou and Conference. These landing sites reflect a focus on inter-island connectivity within the region, facilitating communication between smaller islands and their respective mainland hubs.
The cable's geographic corridor is relatively compact compared to transoceanic systems. It serves as a critical infrastructure for local telecommunications, linking communities that would otherwise rely on satellite or terrestrial microwave links, which are often less reliable or more expensive.
Why it was built and what it carries
CARCIP was developed to address the connectivity needs of smaller Caribbean islands. By improving inter-island telecommunications infrastructure, the cable supports economic development, digital inclusion, and access to modern communication services. It likely carries a mix of internet traffic, voice calls, and data services for both residential and business users.
Digicel, the cable's owner, is a major telecommunications operator in the Caribbean. Its involvement in CARCIP aligns with its broader strategy of expanding regional connectivity and improving service quality across its network.
History: what can be established
The GeoCables database records CARCIP's ready-for-service year as 2019, and the cable is currently listed as in service. No conflicting RFS dates have surfaced from industry sources, suggesting that 2019 is widely accepted as the operational start year. However, details about the cable's construction timeline, supplier, and initial testing phases are not publicly available.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available data does not disclose CARCIP's design capacity, fiber pair count, or the specific technology employed in its construction. Without documentation from Digicel or other authoritative sources, attributing these parameters would be speculative. Given its regional scope and relatively short length, CARCIP is likely optimized for moderate capacity rather than the high throughput seen in transcontinental systems.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency over CARCIP's 225 km wet segment is approximately 1.1 milliseconds one-way and 2.2 milliseconds round-trip. This calculation assumes light propagation speeds of 200,000 to 204,000 km/s in optical fiber. However, real-world latency measurements show significantly higher values due to additional factors such as terrestrial routing, network congestion, and equipment processing delays.
For example, live measurements between Owia and Conference show a minimum round-trip time (RTT) of 10.8 milliseconds, with an average of 1196.8 milliseconds over 45 checks. These figures highlight the impact of factors beyond the submarine cable itself, such as routing inefficiencies and the broader internet path.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If CARCIP experiences a fault, alternative connectivity options are available at Kingstown, where the Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean Fiber also land. These cables provide redundancy for international traffic and may help mitigate outages affecting Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Repairing submarine cables typically involves specialized vessels equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and cable-handling gear. Standard industry practice includes locating the fault, retrieving the damaged section, and splicing or replacing it. Given CARCIP's short length and regional scope, repair logistics are likely less complex than for transoceanic systems.
Bottom line
- CARCIP spans 225 km and connects nine landing points in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
- Owned by Digicel, it has been in service since 2019 according to GeoCables records.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology remain undisclosed.
- Theoretical latency is 2.2 ms RTT over the wet segment, but live measurements show higher values due to network factors.
- Redundancy is available at Kingstown via ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber.