Maya-1.2

Overview

Maya-1.2 is a submarine cable system spanning 2,386 kilometers across the western Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It connects three key locations: the Cayman Islands, Honduras, and the United States. The cable serves as a vital telecommunications link between Central America, a British Overseas Territory, and the North American mainland. Unlike transoceanic systems that stretch across vast distances, Maya-1.2 is a regional system designed to meet the connectivity needs of the Caribbean basin. It has been operational since 2000, providing a reliable backbone for data and voice traffic in the region.

The cable plays a critical role in facilitating communication and economic activity in the areas it serves. By linking the United States to Honduras and the Cayman Islands, Maya-1.2 enhances regional integration and supports the growing demand for high-speed connectivity in these locations. Its relatively short length compared to global systems underscores its focus on localized, sub-regional connectivity rather than intercontinental data transmission.

Route and Landings

Maya-1.2 has three landing points, strategically chosen to connect key geographic and economic hubs. In the Cayman Islands, the cable lands at Half Moon Bay, a site that provides connectivity for this British Overseas Territory to the broader region. In Honduras, the cable comes ashore at Puerto Cortés, the country's largest seaport and a vital gateway for trade and telecommunications. Finally, the cable terminates in Hollywood, Florida, a city that serves as a major landing point for numerous submarine cables due to its proximity to the Caribbean and robust telecommunications infrastructure.

The route of Maya-1.2 crosses the western Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, avoiding the deep Atlantic Ocean. This relatively shallow and enclosed geography simplifies maintenance and reduces the risks associated with deep-sea cable operations. The cable's path reflects its purpose: to serve as a regional connector rather than a long-haul system. By linking these three locations, Maya-1.2 facilitates seamless communication between Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States, fostering economic and social ties across the region.

Ownership and History

Maya-1.2 is jointly owned by Hondutel, Liberty Networks, and Ufinet. Hondutel is the state-owned telecommunications operator of Honduras, responsible for providing critical connectivity within the country and beyond. Liberty Networks and Ufinet are private infrastructure providers with extensive operations across Latin America and the Caribbean. This diverse ownership structure reflects the cable's importance to both public and private stakeholders in the region.

The cable entered service in 2000, marking a significant milestone in regional telecommunications. Its deployment coincided with a broader wave of submarine cable installations during the late 1990s and early 2000s, a period of rapid expansion in global connectivity. Over the years, Maya-1.2 has continued to support the growing demand for data transmission in the Caribbean and Central America, remaining a critical asset for the region's digital infrastructure.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of Maya-1.2 provides valuable insights into its performance. We have measured 275 distinct corridors along the cable's route, with the best recorded round-trip time (RTT) being an impressive 1 millisecond. The average RTT across all corridors is 89 milliseconds, reflecting the cable's efficiency in transmitting data across its relatively short route. These figures highlight the system's capability to deliver low-latency connectivity, a crucial factor for modern applications such as video conferencing, cloud computing, and online gaming.

The cable's performance is particularly significant for Honduras and the Cayman Islands, where reliable and fast connectivity is essential for economic development and integration into global networks. By maintaining strong links to the United States, Maya-1.2 ensures that these regions remain competitive in an increasingly digital world. The cable's robust performance metrics underscore its role as a cornerstone of regional telecommunications infrastructure.