OTEGLOBE Kokkini-Bari: a Greece-Italy submarine cable
The OTEGLOBE Kokkini-Bari submarine cable connects
Kokkini, Greece, to
Bari, Italy, spanning approximately 700 kilometers. Operated by OTEGLOBE, a major telecommunications provider in southeastern Europe, the cable has been listed as in service since 2004, according to GeoCables records. It serves as a critical link in the Mediterranean region, facilitating data transmission between southern Europe and broader international networks.
What makes this cable particularly interesting is the scarcity of publicly available technical details, such as its design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier information. Additionally, while theoretical latency figures based on light propagation suggest a minimum round-trip time (RTT) of 6.9 milliseconds for the wet segment, live internet measurements show significantly higher RTTs, underscoring the complexity of real-world network performance.
Quick facts
| Cable name | OTEGLOBE Kokkini-Bari |
| Length | 700 km |
| Ready for service | 2004 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | OTEGLOBE |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Bari (Italy); Kokkini (Greece) |
| Other cables at Bari | Asia Africa Europe-1 (AAE-1), Italy-Albania, Jonah |
Route
The cable lands at Bari on Italy's Adriatic coast and Kokkini on the western coast of Greece. This corridor is geographically significant as it bridges the southeastern European telecom networks with Italy, a major hub for international connectivity. Bari hosts multiple other submarine cables, including Asia Africa Europe-1 (AAE-1), Italy-Albania, and Jonah, making it a strategic landing point for regional and intercontinental traffic.
Why it was built and what it carries
The OTEGLOBE Kokkini-Bari cable was likely built to enhance connectivity between Greece and Italy, supporting the growing demand for international data traffic in the early 2000s. As a Mediterranean route, it provides a direct link between southeastern Europe and Italy, which serves as a gateway to Western Europe and beyond. While the specific types of traffic carried by the cable are not disclosed, it is reasonable to assume it supports internet, voice, and enterprise data services.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate the cable became ready for service in 2004. This date aligns with a period of significant investment in submarine cable infrastructure in the Mediterranean region. However, no alternative industry sources have been surfaced to suggest a different RFS year, leaving the 2004 date uncontested.
Capacity and technology
Public sources do not disclose the cable's design capacity, fiber pair count, or the technology used in its construction. Without operator documentation, these details remain speculative. The lack of such information is not unusual for cables built in the early 2000s, as transparency regarding technical specifications was less common at the time.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency calculations for the wet segment of the cable, based on light propagation over 700 kilometers, suggest a one-way latency floor of approximately 3.4 milliseconds and a round-trip time (RTT) of 6.9 milliseconds. However, live measurements from remote probes show significantly higher RTTs. For example:
- Bari to Kokkini: minimum 34.4 ms, average 46.7 ms
- Kokkini to Bari: minimum 39.6 ms, average 53.4 ms
These discrepancies arise from additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies, which contribute to real-world latency beyond the theoretical minimum.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure, traffic on the OTEGLOBE Kokkini-Bari cable could be rerouted via alternative cables landing at Bari, such as Asia Africa Europe-1 (AAE-1), Italy-Albania, or Jonah. Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized cable-laying and repair ships, which locate the fault, retrieve the damaged section, and replace or splice the cable. The Mediterranean region's high density of submarine cables ensures a degree of redundancy, but repair times can vary depending on the nature and location of the fault.
Bottom line
- The OTEGLOBE Kokkini-Bari cable connects Greece and Italy over a 700 km route.
- It has been listed as in service since 2004, with no alternative RFS date reported.
- Key technical details such as design capacity and fiber pairs are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency is 6.9 ms RTT for the wet segment, but live internet path measurements show higher values.
- Redundancy is supported by other cables landing at Bari, including AAE-1, Italy-Albania, and Jonah.