TIKAL-AMX3

Overview

TIKAL-AMX3 is a regional submarine cable system spanning approximately 1,935 km across the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico corridor. It connects Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States, providing direct submarine connectivity between Central America, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the southeastern coast of the United States.

Route and Landings

In Guatemala, the cable lands at Puerto Barrios, on the country's Caribbean coast.

In Mexico, the cable reaches Cancún, located on the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula.

In the United States, the cable comes ashore at Boca Raton, Florida.

Ownership and Operators

TIKAL-AMX3 is jointly owned by América Móvil (operating under the Claro brand) and Telxius. América Móvil is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Latin America, with extensive operations across Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States through its Claro subsidiary. Telxius is the telecommunications infrastructure arm of Telefónica, operating submarine cables and tower assets across multiple continents.

Technical Profile

TIKAL-AMX3 has a total cable length of 1,935 km, making it a relatively compact regional system well-suited to connecting the three landing countries across a geographically confined corridor.

Status and Timeline

TIKAL-AMX3 is planned for a ready-for-service date in 2026. The system is not yet in service.

Regional Context

The corridor linking Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States is served by several submarine cable systems, most of which are considerably longer intercontinental routes. Systems such as South America-1 (SAm-1) and the Asia-America Gateway Cable System pass through the United States and Guatemala as part of much broader transoceanic paths, with lengths ranging from 20,000 km to 25,000 km. TIKAL-AMX3, at 1,935 km, is purpose-built for regional connectivity within this specific triangle of countries rather than as a waypoint on a global route. Performance measurements recorded over the past 60 days show an average round-trip latency of 47.0 ms through this cable, with a best recorded result of 21.4 ms.

Strategic Role

By directly linking Puerto Barrios in Guatemala, Cancún in Mexico, and Boca Raton in the United States, TIKAL-AMX3 provides a dedicated submarine path between Central America and the Gulf of Mexico region without relying on longer systems designed for transcontinental traffic. The cable reflects the continued investment by América Móvil and Telxius in building owned infrastructure along routes where both companies already hold significant commercial presence.