Jerry Newton: A Short Submarine Cable in the Caribbean
The Jerry Newton submarine cable, owned by Liberty Networks, connects
North Salina (Sint Eustatius and Saba) to
Willemstad (Curaçao) over a relatively short distance of 88 kilometers. Listed as in service since 2007 according to GeoCables records, this cable is part of the broader network infrastructure supporting telecommunications in the Caribbean region. Its precise technical specifications, such as design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology, are not publicly disclosed, leaving some aspects of its capabilities uncertain.
What stands out about the Jerry Newton cable is its role as a regional link in a corridor with significant redundancy. Willemstad, one of its landing points, hosts multiple other submarine cables, including
Alonso de Ojeda,
Amerigo Vespucci,
ARCOS,
CELIA, and
EC Link. This clustering of cables suggests that the area is a hub for connectivity, and the Jerry Newton cable contributes to the robustness of communication networks in the region.
Quick facts
| Cable name | Jerry Newton |
| Length | 88 km |
| Ready for service | 2007 (GeoCables database value; no conflicting sources known) |
| Owners | Liberty Networks |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | North Salina (Sint Eustatius and Saba); Willemstad (Curaçao) |
Route
The Jerry Newton cable spans 88 kilometers between North Salina, located in the island territory of Sint Eustatius and Saba, and Willemstad, the capital city of Curaçao. Both locations are situated in the Caribbean, with Willemstad serving as a well-established telecommunications hub. The cable's relatively short distance makes it a localized link within the region, connecting two distinct island territories.
Why it was built and what it carries
The Jerry Newton cable was likely constructed to enhance regional connectivity between Sint Eustatius and Saba and the larger hub of Curaçao. As part of Liberty Networks' portfolio, it may carry a mix of internet, voice, and data traffic for local and regional operators. However, without public disclosure of its design capacity or fiber pair count, the exact scale of its operations cannot be established. Its role in complementing the other cables landing in Willemstad adds redundancy and resilience to the area's telecommunications infrastructure.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records the Jerry Newton cable as ready for service in 2007. No conflicting data from industry sources has been identified, so this date is presumed accurate. The cable's operational history since then has not been widely documented, and no major outages or upgrades have been publicly reported. Liberty Networks remains its owner, suggesting stable management over the years.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available data does not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology used in the Jerry Newton cable. Without operator documentation or reliable industry sources, attributing these parameters would be speculative. Given its short length, it may use a straightforward repeaterless design, but this cannot be confirmed without further information.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency over the wet segment of the Jerry Newton cable is approximately 0.4 milliseconds one-way and 0.9 milliseconds round-trip, based on light propagation speeds in fiber (200,000 to 204,000 km/s). However, real-world latency measurements are significantly higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing.
GeoCables live measurements, which include the full internet path rather than the cable alone, show the following minimum latencies:
- Sao Paulo -> Willemstad: 152.4 ms
- Minsk -> Willemstad: 186.3 ms
- Singapore -> Willemstad: 293.6 ms
- Sao Paulo -> North Salina: 152.4 ms
- Minsk -> North Salina: 190.0 ms
- Saint Petersburg -> North Salina: 177.4 ms
These values reflect the cumulative latency of the entire network path, including terrestrial and other submarine segments, rather than the Jerry Newton cable alone.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
The Jerry Newton cable operates in a corridor with significant redundancy, particularly at Willemstad, which hosts multiple other cables including Alonso de Ojeda, Amerigo Vespucci, ARCOS, CELIA, and EC Link. If the Jerry Newton cable were to experience an outage, traffic could likely be rerouted through these alternatives. Standard industry practices for submarine cable repair, such as cable ships and specialized equipment, would be employed to restore service.
Bottom line
- The Jerry Newton cable connects North Salina and Willemstad over 88 km.
- Owned by Liberty Networks, it has been listed as in service since 2007.
- Technical specifications such as design capacity and fiber pairs are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency over the wet segment is approximately 0.9 ms RTT, but real-world measurements reflect the full network path.
- Willemstad hosts multiple other cables, providing redundancy in case of outages.