Dhivaru

Overview

Dhivaru is an intercontinental submarine cable owned by Google that connects three key locations: Flying Fish Cove on Christmas Island, Hithadhoo in the Maldives, and Muscat in Oman. The cable serves as a critical infrastructure for data transmission across the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. While the exact total length of the cable remains undisclosed, its strategic placement underscores its importance in linking geographically and economically significant regions. Dhivaru enhances connectivity for communities and businesses in these areas, facilitating faster and more reliable international communication.

Route and Landings

The Dhivaru cable spans diverse maritime environments, crossing the Indian Ocean to connect three landing points. Flying Fish Cove on Christmas Island serves as a vital node for this cable. Christmas Island, an Australian external territory, is strategically positioned in the Indian Ocean and frequently acts as a transit point for cables linking Asia to other regions. The cable also lands at Hithadhoo in the Maldives, one of the southernmost islands of this archipelago nation. The Maldives, heavily reliant on undersea cables for international connectivity, benefits significantly from Dhivaru's presence. The third landing point is Muscat, Oman, located on the Arabian Peninsula. As a gateway between the Middle East and East Africa, Muscat plays a crucial role in regional and global data networks. Together, these landing points enable Dhivaru to bridge vast distances and connect diverse economies.

Ownership and History

Dhivaru is owned and operated by Google, a major player in global digital infrastructure. Although specific historical details about the cable's construction and deployment are not publicly available, its ownership by Google aligns with the company's broader strategy of investing in submarine cables to enhance global connectivity. Google's involvement in submarine cable projects is often driven by the need to support its data-intensive services and expand access to cloud computing resources. By connecting Christmas Island, the Maldives, and Oman, Dhivaru strengthens Google's presence in regions that are increasingly reliant on high-speed internet and data services. The cable's deployment highlights the growing importance of submarine cables in bridging digital divides and supporting economic development.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of Dhivaru has provided insights into its performance across 152 measured corridors. The cable demonstrates a best round-trip time (RTT) of 92 milliseconds, with an average RTT of 126 milliseconds. These metrics indicate a highly efficient data transmission system, particularly given the vast distances covered by the cable across the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. The relatively low RTT values suggest that Dhivaru is optimized for high-speed communication, ensuring minimal latency for users in connected regions. This performance is critical for applications requiring real-time data exchange, such as video conferencing, online gaming, and financial transactions. The cable's ability to maintain consistent speeds across its corridors underscores its role as a reliable backbone for international data traffic.