PanAm South

PanAm South: A Submarine Cable Linking Panama and Ecuador

PanAm South is a submarine telecommunications cable connecting Panama City, Panama, and Punta Carnero, Ecuador, over a distance of approximately 1,340 kilometers. It has been operational since 1999 according to GeoCables database records and is currently listed as in service. Owned jointly by Corporacion Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CNT) and Liberty Networks, PanAm South plays a role in facilitating data exchange between Central and South America. What stands out about PanAm South is the scarcity of publicly disclosed technical details, such as its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to assess its performance and technological specifications compared to other cables in the region. Additionally, latency measurements from remote probes reveal significant differences between theoretical calculations and real-world internet path performance, highlighting the complexities of end-to-end data transmission.

Quick facts

Cable name	PanAm South
Length (km)	1,340
Ready-for-service year	1999 (GeoCables database; conflicting industry sources unknown)
Owners	Corporacion Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CNT), Liberty Networks
Status	In service
Design capacity	Not disclosed
Fiber pairs	Not disclosed
Supplier	Not disclosed
Technology	Not disclosed
Landing points	Panama City (Panama); Punta Carnero (Ecuador)
Other cables at Panama City	Carnival Submarine Network-1 (CSN-1)
Other cables at Punta Carnero	South America-1 (SAm-1)

Route

PanAm South connects Panama City on the Pacific coast of Panama to Punta Carnero, a coastal area in Ecuador. This north-south corridor facilitates data exchange between Central and South America. Both landing points are hubs for other submarine cables, with Panama City hosting Carnival Submarine Network-1 (CSN-1) and Punta Carnero serving as a landing site for South America-1 (SAm-1). These connections enhance regional redundancy and network resilience.

Why it was built and what it carries

PanAm South was likely built to address the growing demand for international connectivity between Central and South America in the late 1990s. While specific details about its design capacity and traffic types are not publicly disclosed, it is reasonable to assume that the cable supports internet, voice, and data services for commercial and residential users in Panama and Ecuador. Its role as part of the regional telecommunications infrastructure underscores its importance in linking these two countries.

History: what can be established

GeoCables database records PanAm South as having been ready for service in 1999. No conflicting industry sources are currently known, but it is worth noting that discrepancies in submarine cable commissioning dates often arise due to differences in documentation standards or delays between technical completion and commercial activation. Publicly available information does not clarify whether PanAm South underwent upgrades or significant maintenance since its initial deployment.

Capacity and technology

The design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology of PanAm South are not disclosed in public sources. Without operator documentation, attributing these parameters would be speculative. Given its commissioning year of 1999, the cable likely uses older optical fiber technologies compared to modern high-capacity systems. However, any upgrades to its equipment or capacity since deployment remain undocumented.

Latency: the physics

The theoretical one-way light propagation latency over PanAm South’s 1,340 km wet segment is approximately 6.6 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 13.1 milliseconds. Real-world latency measurements, however, show significantly higher values. Remote probes recorded a minimum RTT of 92.9 ms from Panama City to Punta Carnero and 105.7 ms in the reverse direction, with averages exceeding 109 ms. These discrepancies arise from land tails, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies, which add to the cable’s intrinsic latency.

Redundancy: what happens if it breaks

In the event of a failure, traffic carried by PanAm South can be rerouted via alternative cables at its landing points. Panama City is connected to Carnival Submarine Network-1 (CSN-1), while Punta Carnero hosts South America-1 (SAm-1). Such redundancy is standard practice in submarine cable networks, ensuring continuity of service during outages. Repairs to submarine cables typically involve specialized vessels and can take weeks, depending on the nature of the fault and environmental conditions.

Bottom line

• PanAm South is a 1,340 km submarine cable connecting Panama City, Panama, and Punta Carnero, Ecuador.
• Operational since 1999, it is owned by Corporacion Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CNT) and Liberty Networks.
• Technical details such as design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
• Theoretical latency is 13.1 ms RTT over the wet segment, but real-world measurements exceed 109 ms due to additional factors.
• Redundancy is provided by other cables at its landing points: CSN-1 in Panama City and SAm-1 in Punta Carnero.