Few regions in the world are quite like the Caribbean, especially from a telecommunications perspective. Consisting of a plethora of national entities scattered across islands and wide swaths of straits, Caribbean connectivity entails unique challenges and resilient solutions.
This post dives into the crystal blue waters of Caribbean connectivity, discussing recent developments in:
Submarine cable systems in the Caribbean
Supplying and maintaining submarine cable systems in the Caribbean is difficult. Shallow waters, thousands of islands, and the ever-looming threat of hurricane damage are just some of the obstacles providers have to consider when managing their networks.
And while many subsea systems in the Caribbean have been in operation for twenty years or longer, several new projects are currently under development. Here are a few systems that we’re keeping our eyes on that will affect Caribbean nations.
Alisios (ready-for-service date TBA)
Canoa (RFS TBA)
OlaLuz (RFS TBA)
CSN-1 (ready for service 2026)
Fénix (RFS 2026)
TAM-1 (RFS 2026)
Tikal-AMX3 (RFS 2026)
CELIA (RFS 2027)
MANTA (RFS 2028)
Planned submarine cable systems in the Caribbean. Source: TeleGeography’s submarinecablemap.com
The cost of deploying fiber optic cables to rural or isolated areas is often economically unsustainable. This is especially the case in remote islands with small populations. But just because a locale is far away or sparsely populated doesn’t mean the demand for international connectivity isn’t present.
Satellite is not a replacement for fiber, a fact Caribbean clients are aware of. And while investment in new and planned Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations can lower connectivity costs, the price of hardware can still be an obstacle to widespread adoption.
As the satellite market evolves and new LEO constellations begin to offer commercial service, hard-to-connect Caribbean clients will have various satellite options to choose from. Here are some of the companies we’re paying attention to as these plans develop.
SpaceX (Starlink currently operational)
Eutelsat (OneWeb constellation currently operational)
Amazon Leo (preparing to begin commercial service)
Telesat (preparing to launch Lightspeed into orbit)
Rivada Networks (currently planning “Outernet” mesh network)
SpaceRISE (IRIS^2 in planning phase)
SpaceSail (ThousandSails currently in deployment phase)
Bureau 1440 (Rassvet currently in testing phase)
Blue Origin (TeraWave currently in planning phase)
Being globally connected and having control over one’s connectivity are not the same thing. This point has become increasingly important in smaller markets that are historically dependent on foreign-owned companies for telecommunications infrastructure.
Cloud connectivity is a clear example of this dynamic in the Caribbean. While access to cloud services is vital in many Caribbean economies, cloud service providers often operate in the United States under local laws there. This forces enterprise network managers to carefully consider how to maintain digital sovereignty while under this regulatory framework.
But owning data centers and fiber optic cables is only one component of digital sovereignty. Factors like the affordability of connectivity, the amount of competition in a market, and local geography and demographics also come into play. Understanding the many variables that affect a market’s connectivity offers greater insight into what digital sovereignty might look like there.
Enterprise Connectivity Scores in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Source: TeleGeography’s Enterprise Connectivity Score
The Caribbean is unique because of its governmental complexities. No other region in the world has so many small, independent countries existing alongside overseas territories under the jurisdiction of distant sovereign states. This creates a complicated regulatory scenario for telecommunications operations.
Because of the Caribbean’s shallow international waters and delicate natural environments, oversight of the submarine cable industry can be viewed as a favorable protection. But the permitting process also creates notorious delays, impeding speedy deployment of connectivity to areas in desperate need of infrastructure improvements.
Similarly, collaboration across Caribbean governments is commonly discussed as an important path to defending the region’s interests in a global economy. But collaboration can risk further delays on decisions, putting the region at a disadvantage when attempting to be agile and adaptive to market trends.
Not all people have equal access to the internet. And even when access is available, not everyone chooses to use it. The Caribbean is a stark example of this divide and the underlying challenges it reveals.
Infrastructure upgrades can help bridge this gap, but financing such projects can often be complex. And when it comes to digital literacy, education can be just as valuable as the hardware used to connect.
But backbone infrastructure and education are only part of the scenario. Most international internet capacity in the Caribbean goes to the U.S., which increases latency and can lead to high operational costs. Incentivizing more locally created and stored content can diversify that connectivity while making it fast and locally controlled.
Major International Internet Routes in Latin America and the Caribbean. Source: TeleGeography’s IP Networks Research Service.
The disruptive potential of artificial intelligence is a hot topic for Caribbean connectivity. On one hand, AI can become an effective tool for managing complex networks. This is important in the Caribbean where complicated physical geography makes network engineering difficult.
On the other hand, if AI use leads to future traffic growth, the ways networks are orchestrated may need to change. In a region like the Caribbean where many markets have modest connectivity requirements, the possibility of exponential traffic growth is a serious notion to consider.
Select Proprietary and Cloud Region Data Center Locations, 2026. Source: TeleGeography’s Transport Networks Research Service.
Ultimately, the future of Caribbean connectivity hinges on finding the right balance of solutions. Navigating geographic hurdles, complex governance, and the digital divide requires a mix of innovative subsea and satellite infrastructure, coupled with strategies to ensure digital sovereignty. As emerging technologies like AI bring both new tools and new demands, a collaborative yet agile approach will be critical to forging an equitable and resilient digital ecosystem across the region.
For more data on Caribbean connectivity, TeleGeography's data and analysis platforms deliver the telecom industry's most comprehensive, unbiased intelligence.