CELIA

Overview

The CELIA submarine cable system is a 3,700-kilometer-long regional telecommunications infrastructure designed to enhance connectivity across the Caribbean Sea. Scheduled to be ready for service in 2027, it links seven territories and nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Curaçao, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, Bonaire (part of the special municipality of Sint Eustatius and Saba), and the United States. With landing points in both mainland United States (Boca Raton, Florida) and Puerto Rico (San Juan), CELIA provides a vital link between the Caribbean islands and the broader global internet network. The system is poised to improve regional communication, foster economic development, and support the growing demand for reliable, high-speed connectivity in the region.

CELIA is structured as a regional interconnect, focusing on bridging the dispersed geography of the Caribbean island chain. Its design reflects the need for robust local and regional telecommunications infrastructure, complementing existing transoceanic systems that primarily serve long-haul routes. By addressing inter-island and island-to-mainland connectivity, CELIA plays a strategic role in fostering greater integration within the Caribbean and beyond.

Route and Landings

CELIA's route traverses the Caribbean Sea, connecting eight landing points across seven territories. In Antigua and Barbuda, the cable lands at Morris Bay, a key location for the nation’s connectivity needs. Aruba is served by a landing at Baby Beach, while Curaçao connects at Willemstad, the island's capital and a central hub for commerce and communication. The French overseas territory of Martinique has a landing at Le Lamentin, providing vital links to France and the European Union. Saint Barthélemy, another French territory, is reached at Saint Jean Bay, enhancing its connectivity to the wider Caribbean and Europe.

The Dutch special municipality of Bonaire, part of Sint Eustatius and Saba, has a landing point at Kralendijk, which supports the island's local telecommunications infrastructure. In the United States, CELIA lands at two critical points: Boca Raton, Florida, serving as a gateway to mainland North America, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, which functions as a regional hub for the Caribbean. This diverse set of landing points underscores CELIA's role in connecting geographically dispersed islands and integrating them into global networks.

Ownership and History

CELIA is owned by a consortium of four entities: APUA (Antigua Public Utilities Authority), Orange, Setar, and Telxius. APUA is the public utility provider for Antigua and Barbuda, playing a key role in the island's telecommunications development. Setar, the state-owned operator of Aruba, contributes its expertise in managing local telecommunications networks. Telxius, the infrastructure arm of Telefónica, brings extensive experience in deploying and maintaining submarine cable systems worldwide. Orange, a major international telecommunications group, leverages its strong presence in French overseas territories, including Martinique and Saint Barthélemy, to support the project.

The cable is set to become operational in 2027, marking a significant milestone in regional connectivity. While CELIA is not yet active, its development reflects a broader trend of enhancing inter-island and island-to-mainland communication capabilities in the Caribbean. The project builds on the expertise of its diverse ownership group, each bringing unique strengths and regional insights to the initiative.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of CELIA, conducted across 33 measured corridors, demonstrates the cable's potential to deliver high-speed and low-latency connectivity. The best round-trip time (RTT) recorded is 1 millisecond, while the average RTT across the network is 202 milliseconds. These measurements indicate that CELIA is designed to handle significant data traffic efficiently, ensuring reliable communication across its route.

The cable's performance metrics highlight its role in addressing the unique challenges of Caribbean connectivity. The region's dispersed geography and reliance on digital infrastructure for economic and social activities make low-latency and high-capacity connections essential. By providing a direct and efficient link between the Caribbean islands and the United States, CELIA is expected to enhance the quality of internet services, support business operations, and facilitate digital innovation across the region once operational.