Sint Maarten Puerto Rico Network One (SMPR-1)

Overview

The Sint Maarten Puerto Rico Network One (SMPR-1) is a short regional submarine cable system spanning approximately 375 kilometres in the northeastern Caribbean. It connects the French collectivity of Saint Martin and the Dutch constituent country of Sint Maarten with Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States. The cable serves an intra-Caribbean corridor, linking two sides of the same island — Saint Martin and Sint Maarten — with the larger communications hub of Puerto Rico.

Route and Landings

In Saint Martin, the cable lands at Baie Longue, on the French side of the island. On the Dutch side, a landing station is located in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. These two landings sit on the same shared island, which is divided between French and Dutch jurisdictions. The third landing point is at Isla Verde, in Puerto Rico, United States, connecting the island pair to the broader Caribbean and North American network infrastructure.

Ownership and Operators

SMPR-1 is jointly owned by Dauphin Telecom and TelEm Group. Dauphin Telecom is a telecommunications operator serving the French Caribbean, with a presence in Saint Martin and Guadeloupe. TelEm Group is the principal telecommunications provider for Sint Maarten. The two operators together reflect the dual-jurisdiction character of the island the cable serves.

Status and Timeline

SMPR-1 became ready for service in 2004 and currently operates as an active submarine cable system in the northeastern Caribbean.

Regional Context

The Caribbean and broader Atlantic basin are served by a range of submarine cable systems connecting the United States to distant regions. Cables such as the Southern Cross Cable Network, GlobeNet, South America-1, and the Asia-America Gateway Cable System extend across tens of thousands of kilometres, while the planned Project Waterworth and Bulikula further extend the reach of US-connected infrastructure. SMPR-1 occupies a distinct niche among these systems: at 375 kilometres, it is a compact, regionally focused cable designed to serve the specific connectivity needs of Saint Martin and Sint Maarten rather than long-haul intercontinental traffic.

Strategic Role

By linking Baie Longue and Philipsburg on the Franco-Dutch island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten to the landing at Isla Verde in Puerto Rico, SMPR-1 provides a dedicated submarine connection for two small Caribbean jurisdictions to access the wider telecommunications network. The cable reflects the practical reality that even small island communities require dedicated subsea infrastructure to maintain reliable communications, and its dual-island landing structure addresses the administrative division of a single geographic landmass between two distinct political entities.