The TAM-1 subsea cable could soon be extended to Jamaica.
The Jamaican government this week said it had signed a non-binding letter of intent with digital infrastructure provider Trans Americas Fiber System for a subsea cable project to “strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.” According to the announcement, the initiative envisages a dedicated spur connecting Jamaica to the in-development TAM-1 (Trans Americas Mesh 1) network via a purpose-built branching unit, delivering a fiber pair with up to 20Tbps of capacity
First announced in 2023, the 7,000km (4,349 miles) cable will link Florida with Central America and the wider Caribbean. Currently being laid, the 650Tbps system is set to land in Florida, US; Colombia; Puerto Rico; US Virgin Islands; British Virgin Islands; Mexico; Guatemala; Honduras; Costa Rica; and Panama.
AT&T is the anchor tenant and landing party for the system in all US jurisdictions. The cable is set to pass around 220 kilometres (136.7 miles) south of Jamaica.
A final agreement is expected to be signed later this year, with construction of the cable anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2026. The Jamaica branch could be fully operational by Q3 2027.
“This is not simply another infrastructure project,” said Jamaican Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness.
“It is a strategic intervention in preparing our people to succeed in a modern, technologically driven world. Today, we are making an investment not only in cables beneath the sea, but in opportunities above ground.”
“We are laying the foundations for higher economic growth, stronger competitiveness, broader access to education and employment, and greater national resilience. This is what progress looks like when a country thinks not just about today but about the possibilities of tomorrow.”
Holness added that the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa reinforced the importance of resilient infrastructure, and the country was “using this moment as an opportunity to make strategic investments.” Jamaica is currently the landing point for six cables, though most connect to nearby islands and many are towards the end of their expected lifespans.
Liberty Networks’ Colombia-Florida Express (CFX-1), from 2008, connects Jamaica to Florida and Colombia. It is currently the only cable system connecting Jamaica to the US and one of two connecting the island to South America. ALBA-1, owned by state-run Telecom Venezuela with the remainder held by Cuba's Telco Transbit, connects the island to Cuba and Venezuela.
The Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System (CJFS) connects the island to the nearby British overseas territory. Fibralink connects to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The East-West Cable (EWC) also runs from Jamaica to the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands. CW Jamaica’s JSCFS is a domestic system landing at multiple points across the island.
TAFS is potentially planning a new subsea cable in Latin America, dubbed TAM-2. The system will reportedly connect Colombia and Ecuador, among other countries, to TAM-1.
