Farewell-Change-Fogo

Overview

The Farewell-Change-Fogo submarine cable system is a domestic telecommunications link located entirely within Canada. Spanning a modest 16 kilometers, it connects the mainland community of Farewell to Fogo Island and Stag Harbour, both in Newfoundland and Labrador. This short-haul cable is designed to provide reliable connectivity to these geographically close communities, supporting local communications infrastructure in this inshore region of northeastern Canada. Its purpose is distinct from long-distance, intercontinental systems, focusing instead on enhancing regional connectivity for remote and semi-remote areas.

Commissioned for service in 2025, Farewell-Change-Fogo is among the newest submarine cable systems in Canada. Despite its limited length, the cable plays a significant role in improving telecommunications access for the communities it serves, which are otherwise separated by water and reliant on limited terrestrial alternatives. Its installation underscores the growing importance of submarine cables in bridging connectivity gaps in coastal and island regions.

Route and Landings

The Farewell-Change-Fogo cable features three landing points, all within Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. These are Farewell on the mainland, Fogo Island, and Stag Harbour, which is located on the southern edge of Fogo Island. The cable's route reflects the close geographic proximity of these locations, with Farewell serving as the mainland gateway to Fogo Island and Stag Harbour acting as a key local hub on the island.

This inshore corridor lies within a region characterized by rugged coastlines and scattered island communities. The cable crosses a narrow stretch of the Atlantic Ocean, connecting Farewell to Fogo Island and facilitating communication between the island’s settlements. The choice of these landing points ensures that the cable serves the most populous and strategically important areas within this small geographic cluster. By linking these points, the Farewell-Change-Fogo cable provides a critical infrastructure backbone for local telecommunications in this part of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ownership and History

The Farewell-Change-Fogo cable is owned by Bell Canada, one of the country’s leading telecommunications providers. Bell Canada operates an extensive network of wireline and wireless systems across the nation, and this cable represents a targeted investment in regional infrastructure. By focusing on Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastal and island communities, Bell Canada demonstrates its commitment to addressing the unique connectivity challenges faced by remote areas in Canada.

Completed and ready for service in 2025, the cable is one of the most recent additions to Canada’s submarine cable network. Its deployment aligns with broader efforts to enhance connectivity in underserved regions, particularly those where terrestrial infrastructure is difficult or impractical to implement. The Farewell-Change-Fogo system exemplifies the strategic use of submarine cables to extend telecommunications services to areas with limited existing infrastructure.

What Our Measurements Show

Our monitoring of the Farewell-Change-Fogo cable indicates stable performance and reliable connectivity since its commissioning. The short length of the cable, combined with its inshore routing, minimizes latency and ensures high-quality transmission between the three landing points. This reliability is critical for the communities of Farewell, Fogo Island, and Stag Harbour, where consistent telecommunications access supports local businesses, education, and emergency services.

The cable’s geographic context, spanning a narrow stretch of water, allows for efficient maintenance and monitoring. Probes along the route confirm that the cable has not experienced significant disruptions since its deployment, highlighting its robustness in the face of the region’s challenging maritime conditions. The Farewell-Change-Fogo system serves as a model for small-scale, high-impact submarine cable projects, demonstrating the potential of localized infrastructure to transform connectivity in remote and semi-remote areas.