Ceiba-1: Connecting Bata and Malabo
Ceiba-1 is a submarine cable system linking Bata and Malabo, two major cities in Equatorial Guinea. Owned by GITGE (Gestor de Infraestructuras de Telecomunicaciones de Guinea Ecuatorial), it spans 287 km and has been in service since 2011, according to GeoCables records. This cable plays an important role in providing connectivity between the mainland and Bioko Island, where Malabo serves as the nation's capital.
What makes Ceiba-1 particularly interesting is the lack of publicly disclosed technical details, such as its design capacity, fiber pair count, or supplier. Furthermore, its latency characteristics, derived from physics-based calculations, offer insights into the cable's performance. The corridor also features redundancy through
Ceiba-2, which serves the same landing points.
Quick facts
| Cable name | Ceiba-1 |
| Length | 287 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2011 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | GITGE (Gestor de Infraestructuras de Telecomunicaciones de Guinea Ecuatorial) |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Bata (Equatorial Guinea), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) |
| Redundancy alternatives | Ceiba-2 |
| Same family systems | Ceiba-2 |
| Computed latency (one-way) | ≈ 1.4 ms |
| Computed latency (round-trip) | ≈ 2.8 ms |
🗺 Show Ceiba-1 on the interactive cable map
Route
Ceiba-1 connects Bata, located on the mainland of Equatorial Guinea, to Malabo, situated on Bioko Island. This route traverses the Gulf of Guinea, a region known for its strategic importance in connecting African coastal cities. Both landing points are hubs for telecommunications in Equatorial Guinea, with Bata hosting additional cables such as
Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) and Ceiba-2, and Malabo also serving as a landing site for Ceiba-2.
Why it was built and what it carries
Ceiba-1 was constructed to enhance connectivity between the mainland and Bioko Island, addressing the need for reliable telecommunications infrastructure within Equatorial Guinea. By linking Bata and Malabo, the cable facilitates data transmission, internet access, and other telecommunications services between the two regions. While specific details about its design capacity and traffic types are not publicly available, it is reasonable to assume that Ceiba-1 supports domestic and regional connectivity.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that Ceiba-1 became ready for service in 2011. No conflicting dates have surfaced in industry sources, suggesting that this timeline is widely accepted. The cable was developed under the ownership of GITGE, a state-owned entity responsible for managing telecommunications infrastructure in Equatorial Guinea. Its deployment reflects the government's efforts to modernize the country's digital infrastructure.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available sources do not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, or supplier for Ceiba-1. Without operator documentation, these parameters remain speculative. The cable's technology and upgrade potential are also unknown. However, given its relatively short length of 287 km, Ceiba-1 likely employs standard submarine cable technologies designed for regional connectivity.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way latency for Ceiba-1, based on light propagation over 287 km of fiber, is approximately 1.4 ms. The round-trip time (RTT) floor is calculated at 2.8 ms. These values represent the absolute minimum latency over the wet segment of the cable. Real-world latency measurements, however, are influenced by additional factors such as land-based network tails, terminal equipment, and routing.
Live measurements from remote probes show significantly higher RTTs, ranging from 59.9 ms (Cape Town to Malabo) to 388.9 ms (Sydney to Malabo). These figures reflect the full internet path, including terrestrial and intercontinental segments, rather than the cable itself.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure, redundancy is provided by Ceiba-2, which follows the same corridor and lands at both Bata and Malabo. This alternative ensures continued connectivity between the mainland and Bioko Island. Repairing submarine cables typically involves specialized vessels and equipment to locate, retrieve, and fix the damaged section. Given the cable's short length, repair operations may be relatively straightforward compared to longer transcontinental systems.
Bottom line
- Ceiba-1 connects Bata and Malabo over 287 km, enhancing domestic connectivity in Equatorial Guinea.
- Owned by GITGE, the cable has been in service since 2011, with no publicly disclosed design capacity or fiber pair count.
- Redundancy is provided by Ceiba-2, which shares the same corridor.
- Theoretical latency is ≈ 2.8 ms RTT over the wet segment, but real-world internet path measurements are much higher.
- Publicly available details about the cable's technology and supplier remain scarce.