DOS CONTINENTES l & ll

Overview

DOS CONTINENTES I & II is a domestic submarine cable system located entirely within Spain, spanning a total length of 95 km. With all four landing points situated on Spanish territory, it serves a short coastal corridor rather than an intercontinental or even cross-border route. Its name — "Two Continents" — reflects the geographic proximity of the Iberian Peninsula to the African continent at the Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow waterway this cable traverses or skirts along the southern Spanish coastline.

Route and Landings

All four landing points for DOS CONTINENTES I & II are located in Spain. The cable comes ashore at La Línea, Playa de Benitez, Playa de la Ribera, and Tarifa. These locations are concentrated along the southern tip of Spain, near the Strait of Gibraltar. No specific laying order between these terminals is implied by the available landing point list.

Ownership and Operators

DOS CONTINENTES I & II is owned by GTD España, a telecommunications infrastructure company operating in the Spanish market. As a single-owner system, it is not a consortium arrangement.

Status and Timeline

The cable entered service in 2020 and has been operational for approximately six years. No end-of-service date is recorded for the system.

Regional Context

Spain hosts 25 submarine cables landing across 41 landing points, making it a well-connected node in European and international submarine cable infrastructure. DOS CONTINENTES I & II stands apart from most cables touching Spain in both scope and scale: at 95 km, it is shorter than all 24 other cables sharing the same national corridor, which include long-haul systems such as 2Africa (45,000 km), Africa Coast to Europe (17,000 km), and Grace Hopper (7,191 km). Where those systems provide intercontinental connectivity, DOS CONTINENTES I & II operates as a short, localized coastal link. Several cables in the same corridor — including Anjana, Medusa, and Sol — are planned for service in 2026 and 2027, reflecting continued investment in Spain's submarine cable sector.

Strategic Role

DOS CONTINENTES I & II provides short-distance submarine connectivity along the southern coast of Spain between La Línea, Playa de Benitez, Playa de la Ribera, and Tarifa. At just 95 km, it addresses localized connectivity needs in one of Europe's most geographically distinctive coastal zones, where the European and African landmasses approach within a few kilometers of each other. The system complements Spain's broader submarine cable infrastructure by serving a coastal segment that longer intercontinental cables do not directly address at this local scale.