Seabras-1: A transoceanic link between Brazil and the United States
Seabras-1 is a submarine cable system connecting
Praia Grande, Brazil, to
Wall Township, United States. Spanning approximately 10,800 kilometers, it provides a direct telecommunications corridor across the Atlantic Ocean. The cable is owned by Seaborn Networks and Sparkle and has been listed as in service since 2017, according to GeoCables records. Its specific design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier are not publicly disclosed, leaving some technical aspects of the system uncertain.
What makes Seabras-1 noteworthy is its role in facilitating communication between South America and North America, bypassing traditional routes that often involve intermediate landings in the Caribbean. Additionally, live latency measurements conducted through remote probes reveal real-world performance that exceeds the theoretical latency floor, illustrating the complexities of end-to-end internet routing.
Quick facts
| Cable Name | Seabras-1 |
| Length | 10,800 km |
| Ready-for-Service Year | 2017 (GeoCables database) |
| Owners | Seaborn Networks, Sparkle |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Praia Grande (Brazil), Wall Township (United States) |
Route
Seabras-1 connects Praia Grande, a coastal city in São Paulo state, Brazil, to Wall Township, New Jersey, United States. This route is significant for its directness, avoiding intermediate landings that can add latency and complexity. Praia Grande is a hub for submarine cable activity, hosting other systems like
Firmina and
Malbec. Wall Township, similarly, is a key landing site for multiple cables, including
Confluence-1,
Havfrue/AEC-2, and
Tata TGN-Atlantic South.
Why it was built and what it carries
Seabras-1 was constructed to meet the growing demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity between South America and North America. Brazil, as the largest economy in South America, has significant international data traffic requirements, particularly for financial services, cloud computing, and content delivery networks. The cable provides a direct path for this traffic, reducing reliance on older systems with less optimal routes.
While the exact data types carried by Seabras-1 are not disclosed, it likely supports a mix of corporate, government, and consumer data, including internet traffic, private network connections, and cloud services.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that Seabras-1 became ready for service in 2017. No conflicting dates have been surfaced from industry sources, suggesting general agreement on this timeline. The cable's development and deployment were part of broader efforts to modernize and expand transatlantic connectivity.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity of Seabras-1 is not publicly disclosed, nor are details about its fiber pair count or supplier. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to state these specifications with certainty. Like most modern submarine cables, it likely uses dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology to maximize data throughput, but this remains speculative in the absence of confirmed information.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way latency for light propagation over 10,800 kilometers of fiber is approximately 52.9 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 105.9 milliseconds. These calculations assume ideal conditions, including no additional delays from land segments, terminal equipment, or routing.
Live latency measurements conducted via remote probes show a minimum RTT of 125.4 milliseconds from Praia Grande to Wall Township and 120.9 milliseconds in the reverse direction. Average RTTs are higher, reaching 138.1 milliseconds in one direction. These figures reflect the combined impact of the cable's wet segment, terrestrial links, and internet routing inefficiencies.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Seabras-1 were to experience a fault, traffic could be rerouted via other cables landing at Praia Grande and Wall Township. In Brazil, alternatives include Firmina and Malbec, while in the United States, options include Confluence-1, Havfrue/AEC-2, and Tata TGN-Atlantic South. However, these alternative systems may not offer the same direct path or latency characteristics, potentially impacting service quality.
Repairing a submarine cable typically involves dispatching specialized ships equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to locate and fix the fault. Repairs can take weeks, depending on the nature of the issue and environmental conditions.
Bottom line
- Seabras-1 spans 10,800 km, connecting Praia Grande, Brazil, to Wall Township, United States.
- It has been in service since 2017, according to GeoCables records.
- Owned by Seaborn Networks and Sparkle, its design capacity and fiber pair count are not publicly disclosed.
- Live latency measurements exceed theoretical calculations, highlighting real-world routing complexities.
- Redundancy options exist but may involve less direct routes.