San Andres Isla Tolu Submarine Cable (SAIT): Connecting Colombia's mainland to its island territory
The San Andres Isla Tolu Submarine Cable (SAIT) is a submarine telecommunications cable that links the Colombian mainland at Tolu to San Andres, an island located in the Caribbean Sea. Owned by Energía Integral Andina, the cable spans approximately 826 kilometers and has been listed as in service since 2010, according to GeoCables records. This cable plays a significant role in providing connectivity to San Andres, which is geographically isolated from mainland Colombia.
What stands out about SAIT is the scarcity of publicly disclosed technical details. Key parameters such as design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology used remain unknown in public sources. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to fully assess the cable's technical capabilities and operational performance. Additionally, while GeoCables data records its ready-for-service year as 2010, no conflicting dates have surfaced from industry sources, leaving the timeline relatively uncontested.
Quick facts
| Length | 826 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2010 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | Energía Integral Andina |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | San Andres (Colombia); Tolu (Colombia) |
| Other cables at Tolu | Colombian Festoon |
| Computed one-way latency (wet segment) | ≈ 4.0 ms |
| Computed round-trip latency (wet segment) | ≈ 8.1 ms |
| Live latency measurements | None available |
🗺 Show San Andres Isla Tolu Submarine Cable (SAIT) on the interactive cable map
Route
The SAIT cable connects the mainland Colombian port town of Tolu to the island of San Andres, situated in the Caribbean Sea approximately 700 kilometers northwest of mainland Colombia. San Andres is a key Colombian territory, known for its tourism and strategic location. The cable provides essential connectivity between the island and the mainland, facilitating communication, internet access, and data transfer. Tolu is also a landing point for the Colombian Festoon cable, which serves as an alternative route for connectivity in the region.
Why it was built and what it carries
The primary purpose of the SAIT cable is to provide telecommunications infrastructure to San Andres, an island that is geographically distant from mainland Colombia. Before the cable's deployment, connectivity to the island would have relied on satellite links or other less efficient methods, which are typically higher in latency and lower in bandwidth. By laying a submarine cable, Energía Integral Andina aimed to improve internet speeds, reliability, and overall communication capabilities for the island's residents, businesses, and government institutions.
Although the specific data traffic carried by the cable is not disclosed, it likely supports internet services, voice communications, and enterprise data needs. The cable's role is particularly important for San Andres's tourism industry, which depends on reliable connectivity for bookings, communications, and digital services.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records the SAIT cable as having been ready for service in 2010. No conflicting dates have been identified in public sources or industry reports, suggesting that this timeline is accurate. Energía Integral Andina is listed as the owner, but details about the construction process, supplier, or any challenges faced during deployment are not publicly available.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available information does not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, or specific technology used in the SAIT cable. Without documentation from the operator or other reliable sources, attributing these parameters would be speculative. The cable's capacity and technological specifications remain unknown, leaving its performance characteristics unclear.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way latency for light propagation over the 826-kilometer wet segment of the SAIT cable is approximately 4.0 milliseconds, assuming light travels through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 kilometers per second. The theoretical round-trip time (RTT) for the wet segment is approximately 8.1 milliseconds. However, real-world latency measurements would be higher due to additional factors such as land-based network tails, terminal equipment processing, and routing inefficiencies. No live latency measurements for the SAIT cable are currently available.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure on the SAIT cable, redundancy for connectivity to Tolu is partially provided by the Colombian Festoon cable, which also lands at Tolu. However, redundancy options specifically serving San Andres are less clear. Repairs to submarine cables typically involve specialized cable ships equipped to locate, retrieve, and repair damaged sections. The time required for repairs can vary depending on the nature of the fault, weather conditions, and the availability of repair vessels.
Bottom line
- The SAIT cable spans 826 kilometers, connecting Tolu on mainland Colombia to San Andres in the Caribbean Sea.
- Owned by Energía Integral Andina, it has been listed as in service since 2010.
- Key technical details such as design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology remain undisclosed.
- The computed one-way latency for the wet segment is approximately 4.0 milliseconds, with real-world latency expected to be higher.
- Redundancy at Tolu is supported by the Colombian Festoon cable, but options for San Andres are less evident.