X-Link Submarine Cable

X-Link Submarine Cable: Connecting Guyana and Barbados

The X-Link Submarine Cable is a 775-kilometer fiber-optic system linking Georgetown, Guyana, to Pegwell, Barbados. Owned by E-Networks Inc., the cable is listed as in service and was recorded in the GeoCables database as being ready for service (RFS) in 2019. While its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technologies have not been publicly disclosed, the cable serves as a critical telecommunications link within the Caribbean region. What makes the X-Link Submarine Cable particularly interesting is its role in Guyana’s growing connectivity landscape. Georgetown is a landing point for multiple submarine cables, including Deep Blue One and the Suriname-Guyana Submarine Cable System (SG-SCS). This redundancy is important for maintaining reliable connectivity in the event of outages. However, the lack of public information about the cable’s technical specifications and performance metrics leaves several aspects of its operation open to speculation.

Quick facts

Cable name	X-Link Submarine Cable
Length	775 km
Ready-for-service year	2019 (GeoCables database)
Owner	E-Networks Inc.
Status	In service
Design capacity	Not disclosed
Fiber pairs	Not disclosed
Supplier	Not disclosed
Technology	Not disclosed
Landing points	Georgetown (Guyana); Pegwell (Barbados)

Show X-Link Submarine Cable on the interactive cable map

Route

The X-Link Submarine Cable connects Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana, to Pegwell, Barbados, a location near the island’s southern coast. Georgetown is a hub for submarine cable connectivity in Guyana, hosting other cables such as Deep Blue One and the Suriname-Guyana Submarine Cable System (SG-SCS). Pegwell, Barbados, serves as a strategic landing point for regional connectivity, linking the island to other Caribbean nations and beyond. The route spans 775 kilometers through the Caribbean Sea. While the exact burial depth and seabed conditions are not disclosed, standard industry practices suggest that the cable would be buried or armored in shallow waters to protect it from anchors and fishing activities, while deeper sections may be left unburied.

Why it was built and what it carries

The X-Link Submarine Cable was likely built to enhance connectivity between Guyana and Barbados, two nations with growing demand for high-speed internet and reliable telecommunications. Guyana has been experiencing rapid economic growth, driven partly by its burgeoning oil industry, which has increased the need for strong digital infrastructure. Barbados, a regional hub for tourism and business, also benefits from improved international connectivity. Although specific data on traffic types or capacity is not disclosed, submarine cables of this nature typically carry internet, voice, and data traffic for residential, business, and governmental users.

History: what can be established

The GeoCables database records the X-Link Submarine Cable as being ready for service in 2019. If industry sources suggest a different RFS year, this discrepancy would need to be explored further. Possible reasons for conflicting dates could include delays in deployment, staggered activation of segments, or differences in definitions of "ready for service" (e.g., physical completion versus commercial availability).

Capacity and technology

Publicly available information does not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technologies used in the X-Link Submarine Cable. Without operator documentation, attributing these details would be speculative. Submarine cables in this region typically use dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology, but whether this cable employs DWDM or other technologies is not confirmed.

Latency: the physics

The theoretical one-way latency for light propagation over the X-Link Submarine Cable’s 775-kilometer wet segment is approximately 3.8 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 7.6 milliseconds. However, real-world latency measurements are significantly higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing. GeoCables live measurements, which capture the full internet path rather than the cable alone, show the following RTTs:

• Georgetown -> Pegwell: min 33.4 ms, avg 55.6 ms
• Pegwell -> Georgetown: min 85.9 ms, avg 106.8 ms
• Sao Paulo -> Pegwell: min 160.0 ms, avg 164.9 ms
• Minsk -> Pegwell: min 193.4 ms, avg 202.3 ms
• Saint Petersburg -> Pegwell: min 214.5 ms, avg 217.1 ms
• Kyiv -> Pegwell: min 199.1 ms, avg 208.4 ms

These figures reflect the broader internet routing environment and should not be interpreted as the cable’s direct performance.

Redundancy: what happens if it breaks

If the X-Link Submarine Cable experiences an outage, Georgetown’s connectivity would rely on alternative cables such as Deep Blue One and the Suriname-Guyana Submarine Cable System (SG-SCS). Barbados, meanwhile, has other regional connections, though specific alternatives are not listed in the GeoCables database. Standard industry practices for cable repair involve deploying specialized cable ships equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to locate and repair the fault. Repairs can take weeks depending on the nature of the damage, weather conditions, and the availability of repair vessels.

Bottom line

• The X-Link Submarine Cable spans 775 km, connecting Georgetown, Guyana, to Pegwell, Barbados.
• Owned by E-Networks Inc., it was recorded as ready for service in 2019.
• Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
• Theoretical latency is approximately 7.6 ms RTT for the wet segment, but real-world measurements are higher due to routing and equipment.
• Georgetown has redundancy through other cables, while Barbados’s alternatives are less documented.