Mid-Atlantic Crossing (MAC)

Mid-Atlantic Crossing (MAC): A key link in the Americas

The Mid-Atlantic Crossing (MAC) is a submarine telecommunications cable system spanning approximately 7500 km, connecting the United States mainland to the Virgin Islands (U.S.). Owned by Cirion Technologies, it has been operational since 2000, according to GeoCables records. The cable serves as a significant route for data traffic across the mid-Atlantic region, linking Brookhaven (New York), Hollywood (Florida), and St. Croix (Virgin Islands (U.S.)). While MAC's geographic importance is clear, several technical aspects remain undisclosed in public sources, including its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to fully assess the cable's technical profile, leaving room for speculation about its capabilities and upgrades since its initial deployment.

Quick facts

Name	Mid-Atlantic Crossing (MAC)
Length	7500 km
Ready for Service	2000 (GeoCables database value)
Owner	Cirion Technologies
Status	In service
Design Capacity	Not disclosed
Fiber Pairs	Not disclosed
Supplier	Not disclosed
Technology	Not disclosed
Landing Points	Brookhaven (United States); Hollywood (United States); St. Croix (Virgin Islands (U.S.))

Show Mid-Atlantic Crossing (MAC) on the interactive cable map

Route

The MAC cable system connects three landing points: Brookhaven in New York, Hollywood in Florida, and St. Croix in the Virgin Islands (U.S.). These locations are strategically chosen to serve as hubs for data traffic between North America and the Caribbean. Brookhaven hosts other cables such as Atlantic Crossing-1 (AC-1), while Hollywood is a landing point for America Movil Submarine Cable System-1 (AMX-1), Maya-1.2, and TAM-1. St. Croix, a critical Caribbean node, accommodates multiple cables, including Americas-II West, Global Caribbean Network (GCN), South American Crossing (SAC), and Southern Caribbean Fiber.

Why it was built and what it carries

The MAC cable was designed to support growing data demands between the United States and the Caribbean. Its route provides redundancy and additional capacity for regional connectivity, complementing other systems in the area. Although specific details about its traffic types are not disclosed, such cables typically carry internet, voice, and private enterprise data. The presence of multiple cables at each landing point suggests that MAC contributes to a dense and interconnected network in the Americas.

History: what can be established

GeoCables records indicate that MAC was ready for service in 2000. This aligns with the broader timeline of submarine cable deployments during the late 1990s and early 2000s, a period marked by rapid expansion of global fiber-optic networks. If industry sources suggest a different RFS year, it could be due to discrepancies in documentation, phased commissioning of segments, or upgrades that altered the cable's operational status. However, no conflicting dates are currently known.

Capacity and technology

Publicly available data does not disclose MAC's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology. Without operator documentation, attributing these parameters would be speculative. It is reasonable to assume that the cable has undergone upgrades since 2000 to remain competitive, as most long-haul cables are periodically enhanced with newer terminal equipment and wavelength technologies.

Latency: the physics

Theoretical one-way light propagation over MAC's 7500 km wet segment is approximately 36.8 ms, yielding a round-trip time (RTT) floor of about 73.5 ms. Real-world latency measurements are typically higher due to land tails, routing, and terminal equipment delays. GeoCables live measurements report an average RTT of 62.8 ms between Brookhaven and St. Croix, but the minimum observed RTT of 61.6 ms is flagged as a measurement artifact, falling below the physical floor. This anomaly likely results from rate-limited ICMP replies at intermediate routers and should not be interpreted as the cable's true latency performance.

Redundancy: what happens if it breaks

In the event of a MAC outage, redundancy is provided by other cables at its landing points. For Brookhaven, Atlantic Crossing-1 (AC-1) offers alternative connectivity. Hollywood is served by AMX-1, Maya-1.2, and TAM-1, while St. Croix has Americas-II West, GCN, SAC, and Southern Caribbean Fiber. Repairing a submarine cable typically involves locating the fault using advanced survey techniques, deploying specialized cable ships, and conducting splicing operations. These processes can take weeks depending on the fault's location and severity.

Bottom line

• Mid-Atlantic Crossing (MAC) spans 7500 km and connects Brookhaven, Hollywood, and St. Croix.
• Owned by Cirion Technologies, it has been listed as in service since 2000.
• Key technical details, including design capacity and fiber pair count, are not publicly disclosed.
• Theoretical RTT over the wet segment is 73.5 ms; real-world measurements are higher due to additional factors.
• Redundancy is provided by multiple cables at each landing point.