South America-1 (SAm-1)

Overview

South America-1 (SAm-1) is a submarine cable system stretching approximately 25,000 kilometres along the western and eastern coasts of South America, with connections extending northward through the Caribbean and Central America to the United States. The system links nine countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, and the United States, serving both the Pacific and Atlantic corridors of the Americas.

Route and Landings

In Argentina, the cable lands at Las Toninas. Brazil is served by four landing points: Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Santos. Chile has landings at Arica and Valparaíso. In Colombia, the cable comes ashore at Barranquilla. The Dominican Republic is connected through Punta Cana, while Ecuador's landing is at Punta Carnero. Guatemala hosts two stations, at Puerto Barrios and Puerto San Jose. Peru is served by landings at Lurin and Mancora. Within the United States, the system reaches Boca Raton, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ownership and Operators

SAm-1 is owned by Telxius, the telecommunications infrastructure company that operates as part of the Telefónica group. Telxius manages a portfolio of submarine cable and tower assets across Europe and the Americas.

Status and Timeline

SAm-1 entered service in 2001, making it one of the earlier large-scale cable systems to encircle South America and connect the continent to North America and the Caribbean.

Regional Context

SAm-1 operates in a corridor that includes several other long-haul cable systems. South American Crossing (SAC), also ready for service in 2000, connects Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru over 20,000 km. GlobeNet, similarly commissioned in 2000, links Brazil, Colombia, and the United States at 23,500 km. SAm-1's 25,000 km reach and its 16 landing points across both Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America give it broader geographic coverage than some of its contemporaries in the same corridor. The more recent Project Waterworth, at 50,000 km, and Bulikula, expected ready for service in 2026, represent newer additions to Americas-focused cable infrastructure.

Over 86 ping tests conducted in the past 60 days, SAm-1 recorded an average round-trip latency of 143.6 ms, with a best observed value of 110.9 ms.

Strategic Role

With 16 landing points spread across nine countries on both coasts of South America and reaching northward to the Caribbean and the continental United States, SAm-1 provides diverse connectivity across a geographically extensive corridor. Its landings in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic extend its reach into Central America and the Caribbean, regions with fewer cable touchpoints. The cable supports data exchange between the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards of South America and onward to North America, reflecting the broad scope of its original design.