New CAM Ring

Overview

New CAM Ring is a domestic submarine cable system serving Portugal, connecting the Portuguese mainland with the autonomous island regions of Madeira and the Azores. With a total length of 3,812 km, the system links six landing points entirely within Portuguese territory, providing intra-national connectivity across the Atlantic archipelagos. The cable is planned for service in 2026 and is owned by IP Telecom.

Route and Landings

In mainland Portugal, the cable lands at Carcavelos and Sines, two established landing points on the Atlantic coast. On the Madeira archipelago, landings are located at Funchal and Machico. In the Azores, the system reaches São Miguel and Terceira, extending Portugal's submarine cable infrastructure across two distinct island groups in the mid-Atlantic.

Ownership and Operators

New CAM Ring is owned by IP Telecom, a Portuguese telecommunications operator. As sole owner of the system, IP Telecom manages the cable's deployment and operation across the six landing points.

Status and Timeline

New CAM Ring is planned to be ready for service in 2026. The system is currently in a pre-operational phase ahead of that target date.

Regional Context

Portugal's Atlantic-facing coastline and island territories have attracted a number of international submarine cable systems. Cables such as 2Africa, Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), Equiano, Europe India Gateway (EIG), Medusa Submarine Cable System, and Sol all include Portuguese landing points as part of wider intercontinental or regional routes connecting Europe, Africa, and beyond. New CAM Ring differs from these systems in scope: rather than serving as an international link, it is focused exclusively on domestic connectivity, tying the Portuguese mainland to Madeira and the Azores through a dedicated ring architecture. At 3,812 km, it is considerably shorter than its regional peers, reflecting its intra-national purpose.

Strategic Role

By connecting Carcavelos and Sines on the mainland with landing points in both Madeira and the Azores, New CAM Ring supports direct submarine connectivity between Portugal's continental territory and its two Atlantic autonomous regions. The ring configuration, spanning six landing points, allows for path diversity across these geographically dispersed island communities, reducing reliance on any single cable segment for connectivity between the islands and the mainland.