EllaLink Wins Contract to Extend Cable Network to French Guiana
EllaLinkย has secured a contract fromย SPLANGโthe Local Public Company for the Digital Development of Guyanaโto extend its existing submarine cable network by 2,100 kilometers. Known as theย EllaLink French Guiana extension, this project will mark the firstย transโAtlantic cable landingย in the South American French territory.
Expanding Connectivity to Cayenne
According to the announcement, the new branch will land inย Cayenne, French Guiana, and featureย two fiber pairs.ย Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN)ย will build the system, adding major bandwidth capacity to the region. While the companies have not yet set a timetable, the project is expected to advance regional digital transformation and connectivity.
Strengthened Digital Links Across the Atlantic
The originalย EllaLink cable system, completed between 2020 and 2021, spansย 5,900 kilometers. It connectsย Fortaleza, Brazil, toย Sines, Portugal, with branches throughย Cabo Verde, Madeira, andย Morocco. This highโcapacity network delivers approximatelyย 100 Tbpsย throughย four fiber pairsย and plays a crucial role in linking Latin America with Europe.
SPLANG, aย stateโowned infrastructure operator in French Guiana, will manage the new expansion. The project also includes financial support from theย EUโs Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)ย initiative, a program designed to enhance transโEuropean networks and digital cooperation.
Growing Cable Infrastructure in the Region
Once operational, the EllaLink French Guiana extension will become theย first direct transโAtlantic cableย to land in French Guiana. The region already hosts several undersea systems, including the long-standingย AmericasโII cableย andย Kanawa, launched byย Orangeย in 2019, which connects Kourou to Martinique.
Additionally,ย Digicelโs Deep Blue Oneโexpected to launch later this yearโwill linkย Cayenneย withย Georgetown (Guyana),ย Paramaribo (Suriname), andย Trinidad and Tobago.
Through these interconnected projects, French Guiana and its Caribbean neighbors continue to strengthen their digital networks, improving reliability and access to high-speed data infrastructure across the region.
