GTMO-PR

Overview

GTMO-PR is a submarine cable system that connects Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Punta Salinas, Puerto Rico, traversing a 1,400-kilometer span in the Caribbean Sea. Commissioned in 2019, the cable is owned by the U.S. Government and serves as a dedicated telecommunications link between the U.S. naval installation at Guantanamo Bay and Puerto Rico. Unlike commercial submarine cables that cater to diverse users and regions, GTMO-PR fulfills a specialized role within the U.S. military and government communications network in the Caribbean. Its design and operation reflect its specific purpose as a secure and reliable connection between these two strategic locations.

The cable's relatively short length and direct routing contribute to its low latency, making it a critical asset for real-time communication needs. GTMO-PR exemplifies the use of submarine cable technology for specialized applications, distinct from the broader commercial and intercontinental systems that dominate the global subsea cable landscape.

Route and Landings

GTMO-PR connects two key locations within the Caribbean: Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and Punta Salinas in Puerto Rico. The cable's northern landing point, Punta Salinas, is situated on Puerto Rico's northern coast, a region that serves as a hub for multiple submarine cable systems linking the island to the Americas and beyond. This location ensures that GTMO-PR integrates seamlessly into the broader telecommunications infrastructure of Puerto Rico, while maintaining its distinct role as a government-operated system.

On the southern end, the cable lands at Guantanamo Bay, a U.S. naval base located on the southeastern coast of Cuba. This base, established in 1903, is one of the most strategically significant U.S. military installations in the Caribbean. The cable's route across the Caribbean Sea avoids the more congested and commercially oriented areas of the region, providing a direct and secure link between these two points. Its placement reflects the strategic importance of maintaining robust and secure communication channels for U.S. military operations and governmental activities in the region.

Ownership and History

GTMO-PR is wholly owned by the U.S. Government, underscoring its role as a dedicated infrastructure asset for military and governmental use. Unlike most submarine cables in the Caribbean, which are typically owned by consortia of private telecommunications companies, GTMO-PR operates outside the commercial framework. This ownership structure ensures that the cable's capacity and operational priorities are exclusively aligned with U.S. government requirements.

The cable became operational in 2019, marking its entry into service as a modern addition to the U.S. government's telecommunications infrastructure in the region. Its construction reflects the strategic necessity of maintaining a secure and reliable connection between Guantanamo Bay and Puerto Rico, both of which play significant roles in U.S. military and governmental operations in the Caribbean. Over its years of operation, GTMO-PR has consistently provided the low-latency, high-reliability connectivity required for its specialized purpose.

What Our Measurements Show

Our monitoring of GTMO-PR has revealed consistent performance metrics that align with its design as a short, point-to-point submarine cable. With a best round-trip time (RTT) of 17 milliseconds and an average RTT of 86 milliseconds across 102 measured corridors, the cable demonstrates low latency suitable for its operational role. These metrics reflect the cable's relatively short physical length of 1,400 kilometers and its direct routing between the two landing points.

The cable's performance is indicative of its purpose-built design for secure and efficient communication. The absence of intermediary landing points or commercial traffic further enhances its reliability and latency characteristics. By maintaining a stable and predictable performance profile, GTMO-PR continues to fulfill its role as a critical link in the U.S. government's regional telecommunications network. These measurements underscore the cable's importance in supporting the communication needs of both the Guantanamo Bay naval base and U.S. operations in Puerto Rico.