The ALBA-1 Fiber Optic Cable is transported to Venezuela

HAVANA, Cuba - The ALBA-1 fiber optic cable that will be laid between Venezuela and Cuba and then to Jamaica is being transported from France to the Bolivarian country by the French Île de Batz ship.

Before its departure from the port of Calais, the vessel was visited by Cuban ambassador Orlando Requeijo and by the scientific attaché of that mission, Dennis Casares, who expressed their interest in the details of the transfer, the Granma newspaper report on Wednesday.

The ship’s captain, Pierre Emmanuel Dautry, informed that the vessel is carrying over 1,600 kilometers of cable in its holds, as well as sophisticated technology for its laying and an underwater robot that will facilitate the monitoring of operations.

The new technology will be in operation this year and will multiply the island’s connection with other countries by 3,000, according to information provided by Cuban and Venezuelan authorities.

The link will make it possible to break the blockade of communications, imposed by the United States on Cuba, to expand integration between Latin America and Caribbean nations, and to strengthen Cuban-Venezuelan relations.

At present, the Caribbean island’s access to the network is only by satellite, a situation that limits communications because they depend on an expensive, narrower band.

Meanwhile, conditions are created in Cuba to receive the underwater cable that will soon begin to be laid between Camuri, north of Venezuela, and Siboney beach, near the city of Santiago de Cuba, on the southeast part of the island.(acn)