Fibra Optica al Pacífico: A regional connection for Bolivia
The Fibra Optica al Pacífico is a submarine cable system owned by Entel Bolivia, connecting the Peruvian coastal cities of Ilo and
Lurin. With a total length of 1180 kilometers, the cable is listed as in service and was recorded in the GeoCables database as ready for service in 2020. Its primary purpose is to provide Bolivia, a landlocked country, with direct access to international submarine cable systems via Peru.
What makes this cable particularly interesting is its role in regional connectivity. Bolivia has historically relied on terrestrial fiber routes through neighboring countries for international bandwidth. By establishing a direct connection to coastal Peru, Fibra Optica al Pacífico offers an alternative path to global networks, potentially reducing dependency on terrestrial routes and improving latency for internet traffic originating from or destined for Bolivia. However, many technical details about the cable remain undisclosed, including its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology.
Quick facts
Route
Fibra Optica al Pacífico connects Ilo, a port city in southern Peru, to Lurin, located near Lima, Peru's capital. Ilo serves as the southern landing point, while Lurin is a critical hub for submarine cables in the region, hosting multiple systems including South America-1, South American Crossing, and South Pacific Cable System/Mistral. This route positions the cable strategically to integrate Bolivia into the broader South American and global telecommunications network.
Geographically, the cable traverses the Pacific Ocean along Peru's coastline, avoiding the challenges of terrestrial routes through mountainous terrain or neighboring countries. The selection of Ilo as a landing point is likely influenced by its proximity to Bolivia, facilitating shorter terrestrial links between the cable and Bolivian networks.
Why it was built and what it carries
The primary motivation for building Fibra Optica al Pacífico is to enhance Bolivia's international connectivity. As a landlocked country, Bolivia has historically faced challenges accessing submarine cable systems, relying on terrestrial fiber routes through Brazil, Chile, or Argentina. This cable provides Bolivia with a direct link to the Pacific Ocean, enabling Entel Bolivia to connect to major international cables landing at Lurin.
While specific traffic data is not disclosed, the cable likely carries internet, voice, and data services for Bolivian consumers and businesses. It may also support Entel Bolivia's efforts to expand broadband access and improve service quality in the country.
History: what can be established
The GeoCables database records the cable as ready for service in 2020. Publicly available information does not provide alternative dates, and industry sources consulted do not contradict this record. It is unclear whether the cable faced delays during construction or deployment, as no documentation has surfaced to suggest such issues.
Entel Bolivia's ownership of the cable indicates a strategic investment in international connectivity, aligning with the company's role as a major telecommunications provider in Bolivia. The decision to land the cable exclusively in Peru reflects the geographic and economic realities of Bolivia's position in South America.
Capacity and technology
No public sources disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, or supplier for Fibra Optica al Pacífico. Without operator documentation, the technical specifications of the cable remain speculative. Industry-standard submarine cables typically range from a few terabits per second to over 100 Tbps in design capacity, depending on the number of fiber pairs and the technology deployed. However, attributing specific values to this cable without evidence would be misleading.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical one-way light propagation over the 1180 km wet segment is approximately 5.8 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 11.6 milliseconds. However, real-world latency is higher due to additional factors such as terrestrial network segments, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies.
Live measurements from remote probes provide insight into end-to-end latency, though they include the full internet path and not just the cable itself. For example:
- Cape Town -> Ilo: Minimum RTT of 333.1 ms, average 493.6 ms
- Sao Paulo -> Ilo: Minimum RTT of 94.0 ms, average 94.2 ms
- Singapore -> Ilo: Minimum RTT of 337.3 ms, average 337.9 ms
These values reflect the combined latency of the submarine cable, terrestrial links, and network equipment along the route.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Fibra Optica al Pacífico experiences a fault, redundancy for Bolivian connectivity would likely depend on terrestrial routes through neighboring countries or alternative submarine cables landing at Lurin. These include South America-1, South American Crossing, and South Pacific Cable System/Mistral. Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized cable ships to locate and fix the fault, a process that can take days to weeks depending on the nature and location of the damage.
Bottom line
- Fibra Optica al Pacífico connects Ilo and Lurin in Peru, providing Bolivia with direct access to submarine cable systems.
- Owned by Entel Bolivia, the cable was recorded as ready for service in 2020.
- Technical details such as design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency over the wet segment is approximately 11.6 ms RTT, but real-world measurements are higher due to additional network factors.
- Redundancy depends on terrestrial routes and alternative cables landing at Lurin.