Norte Conectado (Infovia 01)

Norte Conectado (Infovia 01): Connecting the Brazilian Amazon

The Norte Conectado (Infovia 01) submarine cable is a 1,100-kilometer telecommunications system designed to improve connectivity across the Brazilian Amazon region. It links multiple cities along the Amazon River, providing essential infrastructure for internet and telecommunications services in a region historically underserved by modern connectivity. What makes this cable particularly notable is its focus on connecting remote and inland locations rather than traditional coastal cities. The project is part of the broader Norte Conectado program, which aims to expand digital infrastructure across northern Brazil. Despite its importance, certain technical details, such as design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier information, remain undisclosed in public sources, leaving room for speculation about its full capabilities.

Quick facts

Cable name	Norte Conectado (Infovia 01)
Length	1,100 km
Ready-for-service year	2023 (GeoCables database value; no conflicting sources surfaced)
Owners	Alloha Fibra, América Móvil (Claro), Aquamar Group, BR Fibra, ICOM Telecom, Ozônio Telecom, PPLink, SEA Telecom, TIM Brasil, Telefonica, V.tal, Você Telecom
Status	In service
Design capacity	Not disclosed
Fiber pairs	Not disclosed
Supplier	Not disclosed
Technology	Not disclosed

Route

The Norte Conectado (Infovia 01) cable has landing points in 11 locations across the Brazilian Amazon: Autazes, Óbidos, Curuá, Itacoatiara, Juruti, Manaus, Oriximiná, Parintins, Santarém, Terra Santa, and Urucurituba. These cities are situated along the Amazon River and its tributaries, forming a network that supports both urban centers like Manaus and smaller towns such as Curuá and Terra Santa. The cable's route highlights its strategic role in bridging the digital divide in a region where terrestrial infrastructure is often limited due to dense rainforest terrain and challenging geography.

Why it was built and what it carries

The cable was built to address the connectivity challenges faced by the Brazilian Amazon, a region with vast distances, difficult terrain, and limited infrastructure. By providing high-speed internet and telecommunications services, Norte Conectado (Infovia 01) supports economic development, education, healthcare, and social inclusion in the region. It is part of a larger initiative to integrate the Amazon into Brazil's digital economy, reducing reliance on satellite and microwave links that are less reliable and have higher latency.

History: what can be established

The GeoCables database lists Norte Conectado (Infovia 01) as ready for service in 2023. No conflicting information from industry sources has been identified, so this date appears reliable. The cable is part of the Norte Conectado program, which includes several other systems (Infovia 00, Infovia 02, Infovia 03, Infovia 04, Infovia 05, Infovia 06, and Infovia 08). These systems collectively aim to create a strong network for northern Brazil.

Capacity and technology

Publicly available sources do not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology used in Norte Conectado (Infovia 01). Without operator documentation, attributing these details would be speculative. However, given the involvement of multiple telecom operators, the cable likely uses modern optical fiber technology to ensure high bandwidth and reliability.

Latency: the physics

The theoretical one-way light propagation latency over the cable's 1,100-kilometer length is approximately 5.4 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 10.8 milliseconds. However, real-world latency is higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing. GeoCables' live measurements of internet paths to Oriximiná show significantly higher RTTs, ranging from 166.6 milliseconds (Sao Paulo) to 340.9 milliseconds (Sydney). These measurements reflect the full network path rather than the cable alone, including terrestrial and intercontinental segments.

Redundancy: what happens if it breaks

If Norte Conectado (Infovia 01) were to experience an outage, redundancy would depend on alternative cables in the region. Autazes is also connected by Norte Conectado (Infovia 05), Manaus by Projeto Amazônia Conectada (PAC 01), and Santarém by Norte Conectado (Infovia 00). These cables provide some backup capacity, but the overall redundancy for the Amazon region is limited compared to coastal areas with denser cable networks. Repairs in the Amazon are logistically challenging due to the remote locations and environmental conditions.

Bottom line

• Norte Conectado (Infovia 01) is a 1,100-kilometer cable connecting 11 cities in the Brazilian Amazon.
• It was recorded as ready for service in 2023, with no conflicting dates from industry sources.
• Key technical details such as design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier remain undisclosed.
• The cable is part of the Norte Conectado program, aiming to expand connectivity in northern Brazil.
• Theoretical latency is 10.8 ms RTT for the wet segment, but real-world measurements are much higher.
• Redundancy is limited, with few alternative cables in the region.