Lake Albert 1: A short submarine cable connecting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Lake Albert 1 is a submarine cable spanning 51 kilometers across Lake Albert, linking
Nkusi in Uganda to
Tchoima in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Owned by Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS), the cable has been listed as in service since 2019 according to GeoCables records. Its primary purpose is to facilitate regional connectivity between these two countries.
What makes Lake Albert 1 particularly interesting is its short length and unique geographic placement on an inland lake rather than an ocean. Publicly available data does not disclose its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technological details, which limits deeper analysis of its technical attributes. Additionally, live latency measurements from remote probes reveal end-to-end delays far exceeding the theoretical latency floor of the wet segment, highlighting the influence of terrestrial network paths and routing.
Quick facts
| Cable name | Lake Albert 1 |
| Length | 51 km |
| Ready for service | 2019 (GeoCables database value) |
| Owners | Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS) |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Nkusi (Uganda); Tchoima (Dem. Rep.) |
| Same-family systems | Lake Albert 2 |
Route
Lake Albert 1 spans the width of Lake Albert, a natural freshwater lake located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The cable lands at Nkusi in Uganda and Tchoima in the DRC. This corridor is geographically significant as Lake Albert serves as a natural boundary between the two nations, and the cable facilitates cross-border connectivity in a region where terrestrial infrastructure may be limited.
Why it was built and what it carries
The primary purpose of Lake Albert 1 is to enhance regional connectivity between Uganda and the DRC, supporting data traffic and internet services in an area with growing demand for reliable telecommunications. Submarine cables like Lake Albert 1 are particularly useful in regions where terrestrial infrastructure faces challenges such as rugged terrain, political instability, or limited investment. While specific details about the types of data or services carried by the cable are not disclosed, it likely supports internet, voice, and enterprise data services.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that Lake Albert 1 became ready for service in 2019. No conflicting dates have been identified in publicly available industry sources, so this year is assumed to be accurate. The cable is listed as in service, and its ownership by Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS) aligns with the company's focus on regional connectivity in East Africa. Details about the cable's construction, installation, or commissioning process are not publicly documented.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available data does not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technological features of Lake Albert 1. Without operator documentation, it would be speculative to attribute specific values or technologies to this cable. Submarine cables of this scale typically employ standard optical fiber technology, but the absence of detailed information limits further analysis.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way light propagation latency over Lake Albert 1's 51 km wet segment is approximately 0.2 milliseconds, with a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor of 0.5 milliseconds. However, live latency measurements from remote probes show significantly higher RTTs to Tchoima:
- Jerusalem -> Tchoima: min 269.4 ms
- Balancer -> Tchoima: min 200.4 ms
- Cape Town -> Tchoima: min 81.6 ms
- Tbilisi -> Tchoima: min 241.5 ms
- Sao Paulo -> Tchoima: min 327.2 ms
- Sydney -> Tchoima: min 419.4 ms
These measurements reflect the full internet path, including terrestrial links, routing, and terminal equipment delays, rather than the cable's wet segment alone. The discrepancy between theoretical and observed latency underscores the impact of network architecture beyond the submarine cable itself.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Lake Albert 1 were to experience a fault, redundancy would depend on alternative infrastructure in the region. GeoCables lists Lake Albert 2 as a same-family system, which may provide backup connectivity across the lake. However, the extent of redundancy would also depend on terrestrial networks and other regional cables, which are not detailed in the available data. Submarine cable repairs typically involve specialized vessels and can be challenging in inland water bodies due to logistical constraints.
Bottom line
- Lake Albert 1 is a 51 km submarine cable connecting Uganda and the DRC across Lake Albert.
- Owned by Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS), it has been in service since 2019.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology details are not disclosed in public sources.
- Theoretical latency for the wet segment is 0.5 ms RTT, but real-world measurements show higher values due to network factors.
- Redundancy options include Lake Albert 2 and potentially other regional infrastructure.