Cyclades B: A Short Submarine Cable Connecting Greek Islands
Cyclades B is a submarine telecommunications cable that connects three Greek islands:
Mykonos,
Naousa (on Paros), and
Naxos. Owned by Grid Telecom, it spans a modest length of 52 kilometers and is listed as in service. While its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology specifics are not publicly disclosed, the cable plays a role in local connectivity within the Cyclades archipelago.
What makes Cyclades B interesting is its relatively short length and its role in a regional network with overlapping infrastructure. The cable shares landing points with other cables, including
Cyclades A and
Thetis, and operates in a corridor where redundancy is available. However, public documentation about its construction, technology, and operational details is scarce, leaving some aspects open to speculation.
Quick facts
| Name | Cyclades B |
| Length | 52 km |
| Ready for Service (RFS) Year | 2020 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | Grid Telecom |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Mykonos (Greece), Naousa (Greece), Naxos (Greece) |
| Alternatives in Same Corridor | Thetis |
🗺 Show Cyclades B on the interactive cable map
Route
Cyclades B connects three islands in the Cyclades group: Mykonos, Naousa (on Paros), and Naxos. These islands are located in the Aegean Sea and are known for their tourism and local economies. The cable's landings overlap with other cables, including Cyclades A and Thetis, creating a networked infrastructure in the region. The corridor is relatively compact, with the cable's total length of 52 kilometers reflecting the proximity of these islands.
Why it was built and what it carries
Cyclades B was likely built to enhance connectivity between the islands in the Cyclades archipelago, providing improved telecommunications services for local residents, businesses, and the tourism industry. The cable may also serve as a redundancy option for other cables in the region, such as Cyclades A and Thetis, ensuring network reliability in case of outages. Without public disclosure of its design capacity or technology, it is difficult to determine the exact scale or scope of its data transmission capabilities.
History: what can be established
According to the GeoCables database, Cyclades B was ready for service in 2020. No conflicting information has been identified in public industry sources regarding this date. The cable is listed as in service, and its ownership by Grid Telecom aligns with the company's focus on developing telecommunications infrastructure in Greece. Further details about its construction timeline, supplier, and deployment process are not publicly available.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, fiber pair count, and technology specifics of Cyclades B are not disclosed in public sources. Without operator documentation, attributing these details would be speculative. Given its short length and regional focus, it is reasonable to assume that the cable was designed for moderate data transmission needs, but this cannot be confirmed without further information.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency calculations suggest that light propagation over the 52-kilometer wet segment of Cyclades B would take approximately 0.3 milliseconds one-way. The theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor for this segment is approximately 0.5 milliseconds, assuming light travels through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 kilometers per second. However, real-world latency measurements would be higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing delays. No live measurements are currently available for this cable.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Cyclades B were to experience a fault, redundancy is available in the same corridor through the Thetis cable, which also lands at Mykonos, Naousa, and Naxos. Standard submarine cable repair practices would apply, including fault localization, cable retrieval, and repair or replacement of damaged sections. The presence of overlapping infrastructure in the region reduces the risk of prolonged connectivity disruptions.
Bottom line
- Cyclades B is a 52-kilometer submarine cable connecting Mykonos, Naousa, and Naxos in Greece.
- Owned by Grid Telecom, it was recorded as ready for service in 2020.
- Design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology specifics are not publicly disclosed.
- The cable operates in a corridor with redundancy provided by the Thetis cable.
- Theoretical latency over the wet segment is approximately 0.3 ms one-way, but real-world latency is higher.