Corse-Continent 4 (CC4): Submarine Cable Linking Mainland France and Corsica
The Corse-Continent 4 (CC4) is a submarine telecommunications cable connecting
Cannes on the French mainland to
L’Île-Rousse in Corsica. Spanning 190 kilometers, it is owned by Orange and is currently listed as in service. The cable facilitates communication between Corsica and the mainland, serving as part of a broader series of cables in the Corse-Continent family.
What stands out about CC4 is the limited availability of public information regarding its technological specifications, such as design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier details. Additionally, the cable's ready-for-service (RFS) year is recorded as 1992 in the GeoCables database, but this date could be subject to discrepancies if other industry sources suggest a different timeframe. Such uncertainties highlight the challenges in documenting older submarine cable systems whose design and operational details may not be widely disclosed.
Quick facts
| Name | Corse-Continent 4 (CC4) |
| Length | 190 km |
| Ready-for-service (RFS) year | 1992 (GeoCables database value; any conflicts with industry sources are noted below) |
| Owners | Orange |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Cannes (France); L’Île-Rousse (France) |
| Related systems | Corse-Continent 5 (CC5) |
| Computed latency floor | One-way ≈ 0.9 ms; theoretical RTT ≈ 1.9 ms |
| Live measurements | None currently available |
Route
The CC4 cable connects two landing points: Cannes, located on the southern coast of mainland France, and L’Île-Rousse, situated in the northern region of Corsica. This route spans the Mediterranean Sea and provides direct connectivity between Corsica and the mainland. Corsica’s geographic isolation makes submarine cables like CC4 essential for reliable telecommunications, as alternative terrestrial routes are not feasible.
Why it was built and what it carries
CC4 was constructed to enhance telecommunications between Corsica and mainland France. The cable supports voice, data, and internet traffic, contributing to the island's integration into national and international networks. While specific details about its design capacity and technology are not publicly disclosed, CC4 is part of the Corse-Continent cable family, which includes the more recent Corse-Continent 5 (CC5). This suggests a continued effort to maintain and upgrade connectivity in this corridor.
History: what can be established
According to the GeoCables database, CC4 was ready for service in 1992. However, the absence of corroborating details from industry sources leaves room for potential discrepancies. If alternative dates circulate in the telecom industry, they could arise from differences in documentation standards, retroactive updates to cable records, or confusion with upgrades or related systems like CC5. Without definitive operator confirmation, the 1992 RFS year remains the most reliable reference.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available data does not disclose CC4’s design capacity, number of fiber pairs, supplier, or specific technology. Given the cable’s age, it likely predates modern high-capacity systems that utilize dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). Any upgrades to the system would require operator documentation to confirm. Speculating on these aspects without reliable sources would be inappropriate.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency over CC4’s 190 km wet segment is approximately 0.9 milliseconds, with a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor of 1.9 milliseconds. However, real-world latency measurements would be higher due to factors such as land-based tails, terminal equipment processing, and routing overhead. As no live measurements are currently available for CC4, its actual latency performance remains undocumented.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
Should CC4 experience a fault or outage, redundancy in this corridor is supported by Corse-Continent 5 (CC5), the newer system in the same family. Repair logistics for submarine cables typically involve mobilizing specialized cable ships equipped with grappling tools to locate and retrieve the damaged section, followed by splicing or replacing the affected segment. The repair process can be time-consuming, depending on weather conditions, cable burial depth, and the nature of the fault.
Bottom line
- Corse-Continent 4 (CC4) connects Cannes and L’Île-Rousse over a 190 km route.
- Owned by Orange, it has been in service since 1992, according to GeoCables data.
- Publicly available sources do not disclose its design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, or technology.
- Theoretical latency over the wet segment is approximately 1.9 ms RTT, but real-world latency is higher.
- Redundancy is provided by Corse-Continent 5 (CC5).