Cuban fiber optic cable laying company

ETECSA S.A. is the Cuban telecommunications company responsible for laying international fiber optic cables, including the ARIMAO submarine cable in partnership with Orange S.A.Overview of ETECSA and ARIMAO ProjectETECSA S.A. (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A.) is the state-owned Cuban telecommunications company that manages the country's internet and telecommunication infrastructure. It is the primary Cuban entity involved in the installation and management of international fiber optic cables, including the ARIMAO submarine cable connecting Cuba to Martinique . The ARIMAO cable project began deployment on December 8, 2022, from the Tricontinental Port in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and reached Martinique by January 10, 2023. The cable spans approximately 2,470–2,500 kilometers and is designed to improve Cuba's international connectivity and internet speed . The technical work for laying the cable was carried out by Orange Marine, a subsidiary of the French multinational Orange S.A., in collaboration with ETECSA .Technical and Operational DetailsThe cable-laying ship Pierre de Fermat was used for the installation from Cuba to Martinique .The project aims to diversify and expand Cuba's international internet capacity, complementing the existing ALBA-1 cable that connects Cuba to Venezuela .While the physical laying of the cable has been completed, the terrestrial integration and system testing in Cuba are ongoing, including connecting equipment at landing points and ensuring operational readiness .Current Status and ChallengesDespite the completion of the physical installation, the operational status of the ARIMAO cable remains partially unclear. Reports indicate that internet speeds in Cuba remain low, and updates on the cable's full functionality have been limited . ETECSA continues maintenance and integration work, but the impact on public internet services is still being evaluated .SummaryFor anyone looking for a Cuban company involved in fiber optic cable projects, ETECSA S.A. is the key organization. It collaborates with international partners like Orange S.A. to deploy submarine cables such as ARIMAO, aiming to enhance Cuba's connectivity infrastructure, although full operational benefits are still pending. This makes ETECSA the central player in Cuba's fiber optic cable initiatives .