Turcyos-1: A Submarine Cable Linking Turkey and Cyprus
Turcyos-1 is a submarine telecommunications cable connecting
Bozyazi, Turkey, with
Girne, Cyprus. Owned by Turk Telekom, it has been operational since 1993 according to GeoCables records. This relatively short cable spans 110 kilometers and serves as a key link between the two countries. While its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technological specifications are not publicly disclosed, Turcyos-1 remains listed as in service, suggesting it continues to play a role in regional connectivity.
What makes Turcyos-1 notable is its age and the lack of detailed public information about its technical attributes. Submarine cables from the early 1990s often have lower capacities compared to modern systems, but without operator documentation, it is impossible to confirm its current capabilities or upgrades over time. Its sister system,
Turcyos-2, likely complements its function, but the relationship between the two cables is not fully documented in public sources.
Quick facts
| Cable name | Turcyos-1 |
| Length (km) | 110 |
| Ready-for-service year | 1993 (GeoCables database value) |
| Owners | Turk Telekom |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Bozyazi (Turkey), Girne (Cyprus) |
| Sister systems | Turcyos-2 |
🗺 Show Turcyos-1 on the interactive cable map
Route
Turcyos-1 connects Bozyazi, a coastal town in southern Turkey, with Girne (Kyrenia), a major city on the northern coast of Cyprus. The cable spans the Mediterranean Sea, covering a relatively short distance of 110 kilometers. Both landing points are strategically located to facilitate connectivity between Turkey and Cyprus, two countries with strong historical, cultural, and economic ties.
Why it was built and what it carries
Turcyos-1 was likely built to improve telecommunications between Turkey and Cyprus, providing a direct and reliable link across the Mediterranean. While specific details about its traffic are not disclosed, it is reasonable to assume that the cable carries internet, voice, and data services. Its construction in 1993 aligns with a period of increasing demand for international connectivity, driven by the rapid expansion of global telecommunications networks.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that Turcyos-1 was ready for service in 1993. While no conflicting dates have surfaced in industry sources, submarine cables from this era typically employed early-generation fiber optic technology. The cable's continued operational status suggests that it may have undergone maintenance or upgrades, but these details are not publicly documented. Its sister system, Turcyos-2, may have been deployed to provide redundancy or additional capacity, but the timeline and rationale for its deployment remain unclear.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available information does not disclose Turcyos-1's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology. Given its age, it is likely that the cable was initially designed with lower capacity compared to modern systems, which can reach multiple terabits per second. However, without operator documentation, attributing specific technical characteristics would be speculative.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency for Turcyos-1, based on light propagation over 110 kilometers of fiber, is approximately 0.5 milliseconds one way and 1.1 milliseconds round-trip. Real-world latency, however, is higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing. GeoCables' live measurements show significantly higher round-trip times for internet paths involving Turcyos-1's landing points:
- Jerusalem to Bozyazi: Minimum 111.3 ms, average 112.1 ms.
- Sydney to Bozyazi: Minimum 269.1 ms, average 269.3 ms.
- Sevastopol to Bozyazi: Minimum 126.1 ms, average 128.2 ms.
- Jerusalem to Girne: Minimum 112.0 ms, average 112.0 ms.
- Sevastopol to Girne: Minimum 129.4 ms, average 129.4 ms.
- Sydney to Girne: Minimum 269.2 ms, average 269.2 ms.
These measurements reflect the full internet path, including terrestrial and network factors, rather than the cable itself.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Turcyos-1 were to experience a fault, redundancy would likely be provided by its sister system, Turcyos-2, or other regional cables. Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized cable ships equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to locate and fix the fault. Given its relatively short length and proximity to shore, repairs to Turcyos-1 would likely be logistically simpler compared to longer transoceanic cables.
Bottom line
- Turcyos-1 is a submarine cable linking Bozyazi, Turkey, with Girne, Cyprus.
- Operational since 1993, it is owned by Turk Telekom and remains in service.
- Its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency is approximately 1.1 ms round-trip, though real-world internet measurements are much higher.
- Redundancy may be provided by Turcyos-2 or other regional systems.