Trans Americas completes marine survey for TAM-1 cable

Submarine cable company Trans Americas Fiber System completed the marine survey stage for its flagship TAM-1 system in the Caribbean, according to a statement.

The survey is a key step in confirming the exact route of an underwater cable and was contracted with Fugro.

The latest milestone refers to the northern stretch of the planned system, encompassing 7,000km, said the UK company, which is backed by Global Telecommunications Investment and LW Subsea Holdings.

The marine survey for the main southern trunk, which ends in Barranquilla in Colombia, Puerto Limón in Costa Rica and María Chiquita in Panama, was concluded on December 15.

In a March interview with BNamericas, CCO Mario Montero said the northern stretch survey was 90% advanced and completion was imminent.

With route engineering and manufacturing of cable and repeaters underway, the system is planned to go live in 2025.

“We have the cable projected to be ready for service [RFS] in Q3 of 2025. This is for the southern arm, which let's say is our main trunk with 24 fiber pairs. About three months later, in Q4, we will have the RFS for the northern part, as the project began with parallel schedules,” Monteiro said at the time.

In Barranquilla, TAM-1 will land at V.tal's datacenter.

Trans Americas Fiber System plans to further expand its footprint in phase 2, encompassing the Eastern Caribbean and other previously underserved areas.

The TAM-1 system is budgeted at US$300-400mn.

TAM-1 map. Credit: Trans Americas Fiber