WILLEMSTAD – Construction work has begun at Parasasa for the installation of a new international submarine telecommunications cable that is expected to improve internet connectivity, increase bandwidth capacity, and strengthen Curaçao's digital infrastructure.
Contractors working on behalf of utility company Aqualectra have started building a beach manhole, a specialized underground facility where the new CELIA submarine cable will come ashore on Curaçao.
The beach manhole will serve as the connection point between the underwater fiber-optic cable and the island's terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure.
The project represents an investment of approximately US$25 million and is intended to provide Curaçao with faster internet connections and greater capacity to handle growing demand for digital services.
According to the project schedule, cable installation is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2027, while the CELIA system is planned to become operational toward the end of that year.
Connecting Curaçao to the Caribbean and United States
CELIA, which stands for Caribbean ELite Alliance, is a consortium involving several telecommunications companies operating in the Caribbean region.
The submarine cable system is designed to connect Curaçao with Aruba, Martinique, Antigua, Puerto Rico, and Boca Raton in Florida.
By establishing additional international fiber-optic connections, the project is expected to expand the capacity available for transmitting data between Curaçao, neighboring Caribbean islands, and the United States.
Submarine fiber-optic cables form the backbone of international internet communications, carrying large volumes of data between countries and continents.
The additional infrastructure could help telecommunications providers accommodate increasing demand for high-speed internet, cloud-based applications, streaming services, and other data-intensive activities.
However, the actual improvements experienced by residential and business customers will also depend on investments in local telecommunications networks and the services offered by internet providers.
European Union Supports Project
The CELIA project is being supported in part through funding from the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility Digital program, commonly known as CEF Digital.
The program supports investments in digital connectivity infrastructure, including international submarine cable systems.
The European funding is intended to contribute to stronger telecommunications connections and improved digital infrastructure in the region.
For Curaçao, the project could also strengthen its position as a location for businesses that depend on reliable international connectivity, including technology companies and providers of digital services.
Preparatory Work Underway at Parasasa
The construction of the beach manhole at Parasasa marks an important preparatory phase before the submarine cable is brought ashore.
Such facilities protect the transition between submarine and land-based cables and provide access for maintenance and technical operations.
Once the necessary infrastructure has been completed, the cable can be connected to the telecommunications network on the island.
The project is expected to increase Curaçao's international data transmission capacity and provide additional infrastructure to support future digital growth.
With construction now underway and the cable scheduled to become operational in late 2027, CELIA represents a significant investment in Curaçao's long-term telecommunications connectivity.