Kuwait-Iran: A regional submarine cable linking the Persian Gulf
The Kuwait-Iran submarine cable is a 380 km telecommunications link connecting
Kuwait City in Kuwait with multiple landing points in Iran, including
Ganaveh,
Khark Island, and the
Soroosh Platform. Owned jointly by the Kuwait Ministry of Communications and the Telecommunication Infrastructure Company of Iran, the cable has been operational since 2005 according to GeoCables database records, although public information about its technical specifications and capacity remains limited.
What makes the Kuwait-Iran cable noteworthy is its role as a direct connection between Kuwait and Iran, facilitating regional data traffic across the Persian Gulf. However, many details about the cable, such as its design capacity, fiber count, supplier, and technology, have not been disclosed publicly, leaving room for speculation about its exact capabilities. Additionally, latency measurements along the cable's route reveal interesting discrepancies that highlight the challenges of interpreting live network data.
Quick facts
| Parameter | Value |
|---|
| Length | 380 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2005 (GeoCables database; no conflicting industry sources noted) |
| Owners | Kuwait Ministry of Communications, Telecommunication Infrastructure Company of Iran |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Ganaveh (Iran), Khark Island (Iran), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Soroosh Platform (Iran) |
Route
The Kuwait-Iran cable spans the Persian Gulf, connecting Kuwait City to three landing points in Iran: Ganaveh, Khark Island, and the Soroosh Platform. Kuwait City serves as a major telecommunications hub, with several other submarine cables landing there, including
2Africa,
Fiber Optic Gulf (FOG),
Fibre in Gulf (FIG), and
Gulf Bridge International Cable System/Middle East North Africa Cable System (GBICS/MENA). The Soroosh Platform, an offshore oil installation in Iran, also hosts another cable, GBICS/MENA, which provides redundancy in the region.
Why it was built and what it carries
The Kuwait-Iran cable was likely constructed to enhance regional connectivity between Kuwait and Iran, two neighboring countries with significant economic and geopolitical ties. By providing a direct route across the Persian Gulf, the cable facilitates faster and more reliable communication, supporting commercial, governmental, and potentially oil and gas industry operations. However, without public disclosures on its design capacity or technology, the specific volume and type of data traffic it handles cannot be confirmed.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that the Kuwait-Iran cable became ready for service in 2005. No conflicting dates have been noted in publicly available industry sources, so this year appears reliable. Information about its construction, supplier, and initial deployment remains sparse, reflecting a broader trend of limited transparency for some regional submarine cables.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, fiber pair count, and underlying technology of the Kuwait-Iran cable have not been disclosed in public sources. Without operator documentation, attributing specific capabilities to the cable would be speculative. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess its role in the broader network infrastructure of the region.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical one-way light propagation over the cable's 380 km wet segment is approximately 1.9 ms, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 3.7 ms when accounting for the speed of light in fiber (200,000 to 204,000 km/s). However, live latency measurements from remote probes show significantly higher RTTs due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies.
For example, measurements between Ganaveh and Kuwait City show a minimum RTT of 9.9 ms and an average of 325.7 ms over 106 checks. The minimum value is above the theoretical floor, suggesting it reflects the full path rather than just the cable segment. On the other hand, some measurements, such as a reported 0.5 ms RTT between Kuwait City and Ganaveh, fall below the physical floor and are artifacts caused by rate-limited ICMP replies from intermediate routers. These artifacts should not be interpreted as actual cable performance.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a disruption, redundancy in the region is provided by other cables landing at Kuwait City and the Soroosh Platform. Kuwait City hosts multiple cables, including 2Africa, FOG, FIG, and GBICS/MENA, while the Soroosh Platform is connected to GBICS/MENA. These alternative routes ensure that regional data traffic can be rerouted, minimizing the impact of outages on connectivity between Kuwait and Iran.
Repairing submarine cables typically involves specialized cable ships equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for locating and repairing faults. The repair process can take days to weeks, depending on the severity of the damage and environmental conditions.
Bottom line
- The Kuwait-Iran cable spans 380 km, linking Kuwait City to Ganaveh, Khark Island, and the Soroosh Platform in Iran.
- Operational since 2005, according to GeoCables records; no conflicting dates noted.
- Owned by the Kuwait Ministry of Communications and the Telecommunication Infrastructure Company of Iran.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
- Latency measurements reveal discrepancies due to routing inefficiencies and measurement artifacts.
- Redundancy is provided by several other cables in the region.