Whidbey Island-Everett: A Short Submarine Link in Washington State
The Whidbey Island-Everett submarine cable is a 9-kilometer fiber-optic connection linking
Clinton on Whidbey Island to
Everett on the mainland of Washington State, United States. Owned by Whidbey Telecom, the cable has been listed as in service since 1999 according to GeoCables records. While its length and regional importance make it a modest infrastructure compared to transoceanic cables, it plays a role in connecting Whidbey Island to broader communication networks.
What stands out about this cable is the lack of publicly disclosed technical details, such as its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology. This level of opacity is not uncommon for smaller regional cables, but it limits the ability to fully assess its capabilities or compare it to similar systems. The cable's short length also makes it unlikely to face latency challenges typical of longer submarine systems.
Quick facts
| Length | 9 km |
| Ready for Service (RFS) | 1999 (GeoCables database value) |
| Owner | Whidbey Telecom |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Clinton (United States); Everett (United States) |
| Other cables at Clinton | Whidbey Island-Hat Island |
Route
The cable connects Clinton, a community on the southern tip of Whidbey Island, to Everett, a city on the mainland of Washington State. This short route spans approximately 9 kilometers across Puget Sound, a region known for its complex underwater topography. The cable's path likely avoids major shipping lanes and navigates through relatively shallow waters, typical of nearshore submarine systems.
Why it was built and what it carries
The Whidbey Island-Everett cable was likely constructed to provide reliable telecommunications connectivity between Whidbey Island and the mainland. Whidbey Island, being geographically separated by water, depends on submarine cables to integrate its local networks with larger regional and national systems. While specific data traffic types are not disclosed, the cable likely supports internet, voice, and other digital services for residential, commercial, and possibly government users on the island.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate the cable was ready for service in 1999. No conflicting dates are noted in industry sources, suggesting general agreement on its commissioning year. However, public information about its construction, installation, or upgrades is scarce. Whidbey Telecom, the owner, is a regional telecommunications provider, and its involvement aligns with the cable's localized focus.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technology used in the Whidbey Island-Everett cable are not publicly disclosed. Without operator documentation, these details cannot be reliably attributed. Given its short length and regional scope, the cable likely employs standard submarine fiber-optic technology, but this remains speculative without confirmation.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way light propagation time over the 9-kilometer wet segment is approximately 0.0 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of about 0.1 milliseconds. This calculation assumes light travels through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 km/s. Real-world latency measurements would be higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing. No live measurements are available for this cable.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If the Whidbey Island-Everett cable were to experience a fault, redundancy options might include the Whidbey Island-Hat Island cable, which also lands at Clinton. However, the extent to which this alternative could handle traffic rerouting is unclear without capacity data. Repairs for such a short cable would typically involve locating the fault, deploying a repair vessel, and replacing or splicing the damaged section. The shallow waters of Puget Sound may simplify repair logistics compared to deep-sea cables.
Bottom line
- The Whidbey Island-Everett cable is a 9-kilometer submarine link connecting Clinton and Everett in Washington State.
- Owned by Whidbey Telecom, it has been in service since 1999 according to GeoCables records.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology details are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency over the wet segment is minimal, but real-world RTT would be higher.
- Redundancy options include the Whidbey Island-Hat Island cable, though capacity details are unknown.