Kwakiutl (Cluxewe), BC: A Remote Connection in Canada's Submarine Cable Network
Kwakiutl (Cluxewe), located on the northern coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, is a small and remote landing point that plays a modest yet meaningful role in the country's connectivity landscape. With only one submarine cable landing here, the
Connected Coast cable, this point is part of an ambitious effort to link British Columbia’s coastal communities to faster and more reliable internet access.
Connected Coast: Stitching Together Coastal British Columbia
The Connected Coast cable, scheduled to be ready for service in 2024, is a domestic network connecting 108 landing points across British Columbia. From Addenbroke Island to Bamfield, and Bella Coola to Campbell River, this cable is designed to serve communities that have historically struggled with limited connectivity due to their rugged geography and isolation. Kwakiutl (Cluxewe) is one of these points, and its inclusion in this chain underscores the importance of connecting even the smallest and most remote locations to the broader network.
Unlike major hubs like Vancouver or Halifax, which host multiple cables and serve as gateways to international connectivity, Kwakiutl (Cluxewe) is purely domestic. The cable here does not extend beyond Canada’s borders, but it provides a link to regional and national networks, ensuring that residents and businesses in this area can access modern digital services.
Latency Measurements: A Window Into Performance
GeoCables has conducted 25 latency checks to Kwakiutl (Cluxewe) from 10 source cities, with an average round-trip latency of 144 milliseconds and a best-observed time of 100 milliseconds. While these numbers may not rival the ultra-low latencies of major urban hubs, they are indicative of a solid connection for a remote landing point. This performance will likely improve further once the Connected Coast cable is fully operational, enhancing internet speeds and reliability for the region.
Regional Context: A Single Cable in a Vast Network
Canada’s submarine cable infrastructure spans 21 cables and 155 landing points, with Kwakiutl (Cluxewe) hosting just one cable. In comparison, larger cities like Vancouver and Halifax host two cables each and serve as critical nodes in the national and international network. Even Addenbroke Island, another remote landing point in British Columbia, shares the same single-cable status as Kwakiutl (Cluxewe). Yet, the Connected Coast cable’s extensive reach ensures that smaller landing points like these are not left behind, creating a patchwork of connectivity across the province’s coastline.
The Role of Connectivity in Kwakiutl (Cluxewe)
While Kwakiutl (Cluxewe) may not be a bustling urban center, its inclusion in the Connected Coast cable network highlights the importance of connecting remote communities. Improved connectivity can support local industries, education, healthcare, and everyday communication, helping residents stay connected to the rest of the province and the country. For a place surrounded by natural beauty and far removed from major cities, the arrival of modern digital infrastructure is a significant step forward.
Kwakiutl (Cluxewe) may not host multiple cables or serve as a gateway to international networks, but its role in the Connected Coast project ensures that even the most remote corners of British Columbia are part of Canada’s digital future.