November 2018: The submarine cable for the Island’s communications lands ashore in a popular anchorage for yachts on the island’s east coast, just south of Las Palmas. Fibre optic cables are susceptible to damage from anchoring tackle.

Published 5 years ago

The WACS communications cable was installed in 2011, connecting Grand Canary Island to 14 other countries in Europe and West Africa. It carries internet, telephone, fax, data and other communications.

Fibre optic cables carry more than 95% of international communications, with more capacity, speed, and security than satellites, but they may be damaged by anchors, fishing gear and other seabed activities.

The WACS cable lands in the Bay of Salinetas, about 9 nautical miles south of the port of Las Palmas, and 0.3 km south of the Port of Taliarte, on Grand Canary Island.

The approximate route of this cable is shown on the image.

It was documented in the UKHO Admiralty Notice to Mariners 5096/11 of 10 November 2011, and in the Spanish Avisos also Navegantes on 29 October 2011.

Spanish cable protection law provides a zone of a ¼ nautical mile on each side of cables where vessels should not anchor, drag nets or other gear that could damage them. Due to possible uncertainty in locations of marine operations, mariners are asked to keep anchors, fishing gear and other items that contact the seabed at least one mile away.

If your gear snags something that may be the cable, please do not try to lift it. That could cause risks to the vessel, crew and cable. Weight and tension of the cable could affect vessel stability, and cables carry up to 12,000 volts of electrical current.

In case of a suspected snag on this cable call the emergency number +34 6628 65078.

Carlos Carrillo Llorente 

O&M Transmission Network

Maintenance Authority Submarine Cable WACS (EGO)

WACS LPWG Co-Chair

Vodafone Spain

Mobile: +34 610510939

Email: [email protected]