WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao’s proposal to connect to the Aruban undersea cable CELIA is much more than a political decision about investing in digital infrastructure — it represents a critical strategic move to secure the island’s digital future and end its dependence on telecom provider Flow/LLA’s monopoly.
According to government documents submitted to Parliament, most of Curaçao’s existing undersea cables are nearing the end of their technical lifespan, making replacement both an economic and security necessity.
A single point of failure
Currently, Curaçao relies on three international connections, two of which date back to the early 2000s. Only the PCCS cable, installed in 2015, remains relatively new. However, all existing cables land at a single site in Vredenberg, creating a serious “single point of failure”. A single storm, accident, or technical issue at that location could isolate the entire island from the global internet.
The CELIA connection via Aruba would provide a new landing point and thus a second physical gateway to international networks — a move designed to drastically improve resilience and secure the island’s digital backbone.
Faster, more secure connection to the U.S.
The new route would connect Curaçao directly to data centers and cloud infrastructure in the United States, from where the majority of international traffic originates. It would also be shorter and faster than existing PCCS routes, reducing latency — a crucial improvement for cloud computing, financial services, and online education.
Partnership with Aruba and European co-funding
Documents show that SETAR Aruba has already signed agreements with Orange, Telxius, and APUA, and secured European co-financing to expand transmission capacity. Because Aruba’s available bandwidth far exceeds its own needs, part of that capacity can be shared with Curaçao.
Two options are being considered:
a dedicated fiber pair from Curaçao to the U.S., or
a reserved bandwidth capacity of up to 1,000 gigabits per second.
While the first option is more expensive, it offers virtually unlimited capacity and long-term sustainability. The lower-cost alternative would meet the island’s needs for 10 to 15 years but require future upgrades.
Time running out
The government’s operational report warns that time is of the essence. Contractors for the CELIA system have already allocated production capacity. Unless Curaçao commits before May 2026, it will miss the opportunity to be included in the current tender and construction phase.
A delay would force Curaçao to build a standalone cable system later, estimated to cost three times more, with potential delays since cable-laying ships are fully booked years in advance.
Ending Flow’s dominance
The project would also have a major impact on Curaçao’s telecom market. At present, Flow/LLA controls nearly all international connectivity, including routes to Bonaire, limiting competition and keeping prices high.
By connecting to CELIA, Curaçao would gain an independent infrastructure line that allows other telecom operators, government agencies, and data centers to buy capacity directly — reducing costs and encouraging innovation in digital services.
A history of cooperation
Curaçao and Aruba have collaborated before on regional connectivity. In the late 1990s, both islands jointly developed the Alonso de Ojeda cable linking Oranjestad and Willemstad, followed by access to international systems such as PAN-AM and Americas II.
The new CELIA partnership revives that spirit of cooperation, with SETAR leading technical execution and Curaçao joining as a strategic partner.
Bonaire may follow
The government has also noted that Bonaire’s connections are similarly outdated and vulnerable, and that an extension of the CELIA link to Bonaire could be studied in a later phase. For now, the priority is Curaçao’s direct integration into the CELIA system.
A 25-year digital foundation
The CELIA project represents a long-term investment in Curaçao’s digital sovereignty and economic diversification, laying the groundwork for the island’s connectivity over the next two to three decades.
Parliament must now decide whether the proposed rollout is feasible and financially sustainable within the narrow time frame available — a decision that could shape Curaçao’s digital future for a generation.
