Liberty Networks has launched the MAYA-1.2 subsea cable upgrade, doubling capacity for the Cayman Islands and strengthening regional digital infrastructure. The enhanced system, spanning 2,386 km, will deliver up to 4 Tbps of ring capacity across three landing points: Hollywood, Florida; Puerto Cortés, Honduras; and Half Moon Bay, Grand Cayman. Completion is expected by the first half of 2026.
The project is being carried out in partnership with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), which will provide technology and marine services. Liberty Networks will serve as the system’s primary operator and owner. The investment modernizes legacy subsea infrastructure with next-generation Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE), supporting 100G and 400G interfaces, while also reducing latency—19 ms on the short path and 29 ms on the long path. Liberty is also removing and scrapping the southern trunk of MAYA-1 to make way for the new MANTA pan-regional subsea cable.
The company says the $250 million program, which also builds on enhancements to ARCOS and complements the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System (CJFS), will secure international connectivity for businesses, governments, and communities across the region for at least a decade.
• MAYA-1.2 delivers up to 4 Tbps per direction, doubling existing capacity
• Three landing points: Florida, Honduras, and Cayman Islands
• Latency improvements: 19 ms (short path), 29 ms (long path)
• Supports 100G and 400G interfaces via new SLTE
• Southern trunk of MAYA-1 to be removed, paving the way for MANTA
• Part of Liberty Networks’ $250M regional infrastructure investment
“Submarine networks are, and will remain, critical infrastructure for the region,” said Ray Collins, Liberty Latin America’s SVP of Infrastructure and Corporate Strategy. “MAYA-1.2 embodies our commitment to advancing the region’s digital ecosystem, creating a more powerful, efficient, and resilient backbone for connectivity.”
🌐 Analysis: The Caribbean and Latin America subsea market is entering a new cycle of upgrades and expansions. Liberty’s MAYA-1.2 complements the ARCOS upgrades and the upcoming MANTA system, reinforcing the Cayman Islands as a strategic hub. In South America, new systems such as Malbec (linking Brazil and Argentina), Firmina (Google’s U.S.–Brazil route), and EllaLink (Europe–Brazil) are reshaping connectivity to support cloud and AI workloads. The region is seeing a surge of investment from hyperscalers and carriers, ensuring diverse, high-capacity paths that mitigate outages and enhance digital resilience.
🌐 We’re tracking the latest developments in subsea cable infrastructure, policy, and deployments. Follow our ongoing coverage at: https://convergedigest.com/category/subsea/
