Taba-Aqaba

Overview

The Taba-Aqaba submarine cable is a bilateral system connecting Egypt and Jordan across the northern tip of the Red Sea. With a total length of just 13 kilometers, it is among the shortest submarine cables in the region. The cable links the Egyptian town of Taba on the Sinai Peninsula with the Jordanian port city of Aqaba, providing a direct and dedicated communication pathway between the two countries. Its strategic placement along the Gulf of Aqaba reflects the geographic proximity of these coastal cities and serves as a critical infrastructure component for regional connectivity.

Operational since 1998, Taba-Aqaba is notable for its simplicity and focus on a single cross-border route. While larger submarine cable systems in the region span thousands of kilometers and connect multiple countries across continents, this cable serves a narrower purpose: facilitating communication and data exchange between two neighboring nations. It remains an active system, contributing to the connectivity landscape of both Egypt and Jordan.

Route and Landings

The Taba-Aqaba cable crosses the Gulf of Aqaba, a northeastern extension of the Red Sea, known for its narrow width and deep waters. It lands in Taba, Egypt, a small town located at the northern end of the Gulf on the Sinai Peninsula. Taba is strategically positioned near the borders of Israel and Jordan, making it a key point for regional connectivity. The cable's landing here leverages the town's geographic location as a gateway to the eastern Red Sea region.

On the Jordanian side, the cable terminates in Aqaba, the country's sole coastal city and its only submarine cable landing point. Aqaba is situated at the southern tip of Jordan, serving as a critical hub for international trade and communication. The city's location on the Gulf of Aqaba makes it an ideal landing site for submarine cables, including Taba-Aqaba. This direct link enhances Jordan's connectivity options, complementing other cables that land in Aqaba and connect the country to broader international networks.

Ownership and History

The Taba-Aqaba cable is owned by the National Electric Power Company of Jordan. As a single-owner system, it operates independently of the consortium arrangements that are common among larger submarine cable networks. This ownership structure reflects the cable's focused role as a bilateral link between Egypt and Jordan, rather than a multi-country or intercontinental system.

The cable was ready for service in 1998, marking a significant milestone for Jordan, which recorded its first submarine cable landing that year. Its deployment came at a time when regional connectivity was expanding, with countries in the Middle East increasingly investing in submarine cable infrastructure. Over its 25 years of operation, Taba-Aqaba has remained an important part of Jordan's connectivity landscape, providing a reliable cross-border link to Egypt.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of the Taba-Aqaba cable has recorded data from 126 measured corridors. The best round-trip time (RTT) observed was 115 milliseconds, while the average RTT stands at 118 milliseconds. These measurements highlight the cable's efficiency in facilitating data transmission across its short span of 13 kilometers. Despite its limited physical length, the latency figures are comparable to those of longer regional systems, underscoring the cable's reliability.

The Gulf of Aqaba's deep waters and narrow width provide favorable conditions for submarine cable deployment, minimizing potential disruptions and ensuring stable performance. Over the last 60 days, our probes have consistently recorded latency within a narrow range, demonstrating the cable's operational stability. Taba-Aqaba's role as a dedicated bilateral link between Egypt and Jordan ensures that it continues to serve as a vital communication pathway for both nations.