St. Thomas-St. Croix System

Overview

The St. Thomas-St. Croix System is an intra-territorial submarine cable connecting multiple points within the United States Virgin Islands. Spanning 183 kilometers, the cable operates entirely within U.S. Virgin Islands waters, linking landing stations across the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and surrounding areas. It serves as a local inter-island connection within this Caribbean territory.

Route and Landings

All seven landing points on the St. Thomas-St. Croix System are located within the United States Virgin Islands. The cable reaches Banana Bay, Brewer's Bay, Flamingo Bay, Great Bay, and Vila Olga, alongside Christiansted and Frederiksted. Christiansted and Frederiksted are situated on the island of St. Croix, while the remaining stations are distributed across other parts of the territory.

Ownership and Operators

The St. Thomas-St. Croix System is owned by Virgin Islands Next Generation Networks, Inc., a locally focused network operator providing connectivity infrastructure within the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Status and Timeline

The cable entered service in 1997, making it the earliest submarine cable to land in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of 2025, it has been operational for approximately 29 years.

Regional Context

The U.S. Virgin Islands host a number of submarine cables, ranging from short local links to large intercontinental systems. Among the cables sharing this territory are the South American Crossing and the Mid-Atlantic Crossing, both much longer international systems, as well as the Southern Caribbean Fiber, Global Caribbean Network, and the Red Hook-Little Saint James cable. At 183 kilometers, the St. Thomas-St. Croix System is longer than roughly 20 percent of the other cables present in this corridor, reflecting its role as a regional intra-island system rather than a long-haul international route. It predates all other cables currently landing in the U.S. Virgin Islands, having entered service in 1997.

Strategic Role

By connecting seven landing points exclusively within the U.S. Virgin Islands, the St. Thomas-St. Croix System provides direct submarine connectivity between the territory's islands without relying on longer international cable infrastructure. Its seven landings across a relatively compact 183-kilometer route allow for distributed connectivity across St. Croix, St. Thomas, and other parts of the territory, supporting local inter-island communications within this U.S. Caribbean archipelago.