Pishgaman Oman Iran (POI) Network: A regional submarine cable linking Oman and Iran
The Pishgaman Oman Iran (POI) Network is a submarine telecommunications cable connecting
Barka in Oman to
Chabahar and
Jask in Iran. Spanning approximately 400 kilometers, it is owned by Pishgaman Kavir and has been listed as in service since 2012, according to GeoCables data. This cable plays a role in facilitating connectivity between the Gulf region and Iran, although many technical details about its design, capacity, and operational specifics remain undisclosed in public sources.
What makes the POI Network particularly notable is the scarcity of detailed information about its configuration and technology. While its corridor is shared with other cables, such as
OMRAN/EPEG, the POI Network provides an additional route between Oman and Iran, potentially contributing to redundancy and regional connectivity. However, live latency measurements suggest that real-world performance may be influenced by factors beyond the cable itself, such as terrestrial infrastructure and routing.
Quick facts
| Name | Pishgaman Oman Iran (POI) Network |
| Length | 400 km |
| Ready for Service (RFS) | 2012 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | Pishgaman Kavir |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Barka (Oman); Chabahar (Iran); Jask (Iran) |
Route
The POI Network connects three landing points: Barka in Oman and Chabahar and Jask in Iran. Barka, located on Oman’s northern coast, is a hub for several prominent submarine cables, including
2Africa,
Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG),
Europe India Gateway (EIG),
Fibre in Gulf (FIG),
Oman Australia Cable (OAC), OMRAN/EPEG, and
Raman. Chabahar, a port city in southeastern Iran, is also a landing site for
FALCON and OMRAN/EPEG. Jask, situated further west along Iran’s southern coast, hosts connections to OMRAN/EPEG and
UAE-Iran. The POI Network thus operates within a corridor that is relatively well-served by other cables.
Why it was built and what it carries
The POI Network was likely built to enhance connectivity between Oman and Iran, providing an additional route for data traffic in this region. While specifics about its design capacity and the types of data it carries are not publicly available, submarine cables in this corridor typically support internet, voice, and enterprise data services. Its ownership by Pishgaman Kavir, an Iranian telecommunications company, suggests a focus on regional connectivity for Iran’s domestic market and international links.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate the POI Network became ready for service in 2012. No conflicting dates have been identified in industry sources, so this timeline appears consistent. However, the lack of detailed public documentation on the cable’s construction, supplier, and initial deployment makes it difficult to provide a comprehensive account of its history.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, number of fiber pairs, and technological specifications of the POI Network have not been disclosed in public sources. Without operator documentation, it cannot be stated whether the cable employs advanced technologies such as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) or coherent optical transmission. Given its regional scope, it is reasonable to assume that the cable was designed to meet the connectivity needs of Oman and Iran, but attributing specific capabilities would be speculative.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way light propagation latency over the POI Network’s 400 km wet segment is approximately 2.0 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 3.9 milliseconds. However, live measurements of the full internet path between Barka and Chabahar show significantly higher latencies: a minimum of 36.4 ms and an average of 163.7 ms for traffic from Barka to Chabahar, and a minimum of 8.0 ms and an average of 50.9 ms for traffic in the reverse direction. These discrepancies are likely due to additional delays introduced by terrestrial networks, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If the POI Network were to experience a fault, redundancy in this corridor would be provided by the OMRAN/EPEG cable, which also lands at Barka, Chabahar, and Jask. Repair logistics for submarine cables typically involve deploying specialized cable ships to locate, retrieve, and repair the damaged section. The repair timeline can vary depending on the nature of the fault, weather conditions, and the availability of repair vessels.
Bottom line
- The POI Network spans 400 km and connects Barka (Oman) to Chabahar and Jask (Iran).
- Owned by Pishgaman Kavir, it has been in service since 2012 (GeoCables database).
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
- Latency measurements show higher-than-theoretical RTT due to terrestrial and routing factors.
- Redundancy is provided by the OMRAN/EPEG cable in the same corridor.