A new submarine cable system named MANTA is set to link Panama, Mexico, Colombia, and the United States, significantly enhancing digital connectivity across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Developed by Liberty Networks and Gold Data, MANTA will be the first international submarine cable in the Gulf of Mexico, connecting North, Central, and South America. Spanning approximately 5,600 kilometers, the system is designed to deliver at least 20Tb per fiber pair, ensuring robust data transmission. Manta combines the GD-1 and LN-1 submarine systems.
The cable system will also enhance regional data traffic by creating new high-capacity, low-latency routes that connect major data centers in Panama City, Mexico City, Querétaro, and Bogotá with the United States. Low latency minimises data transmission delays, vital for real-time communication such as video live-streaming and online gaming.
The partnership also brings in Sparkle, which will collaborate with Liberty Networks and Gold Data on the northern segment of MANTA, connecting the U.S. and Mexico. In the southern segment, Sparkle will work with Liberty Networks to establish links with Panama and Colombia.
Ray Collins, SVP of Infrastructure and Corporate Strategy at Liberty Latin America: “We are excited to have Sparkle join Gold Data and us in delivering this critical infrastructure that will completely revolutionize connectivity across the region for decades to come.”
The MANTA submarine cable system is expected to be operational in 2027, with an announcement about the selected technology provider expected soon.
💡 Did you know that Panama is at the crossroads of submarine telecom cables? (6 +2 under development). It also has the lowest mobile internet latency in Latin America and one of the fastest broadband internet download speeds.