InterGlobix Magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Jasmine Bedi, sat down with Mario Montero to get his perspective on the transformation of the subsea cable industry at large as well as the impact of TAM-1 on Central American and Caribbean infrastructure. Through the lens of his expertise in both the communications market and regional dynamics, Montero discusses the importance of route diversity, digital sovereignty, and strong collaborations.
The subsea cable industry has traditionally been dominated by telecom consortia and, increasingly, global hyperscalers. How does TAM-1’s private, open-access model challenge these legacy structures, and what lasting impact do you believe it will have on competition and digital power dynamics across the Americas?
The subsea cable industry has traditionally been dominated by consortiums led by global operators, as well as mobile operators who primarily use their capacity to meet local operational needs, leaving limited capacity for the broader market. So the problem is that we have’nt had any new infrastructure besides what has been built by hyperscalers for their own growth. As a result, some markets — such as the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America — have remained underserved for decades, relying on systems with high latency and very limited capacity.
What we have accomplished with TAM-1 is a new connectivity model. More than simply a subsea cable, it has been designed for increasing demand. In addition to being a very flexible platform that covers many of the markets in the Caribbean (with capability to expand to the rest of the Caribbean), what really helps TAM-1 stand out is its neutrality. It’s the first submarine cable built in this region that is not owned and built by a consortium or a group of operators. It’s also the first system to be absolutely neutral and owned by private funds that understand the need for this type of accessible infrastructure as well as the importance of digital infrastructure in long-term societal growth. With these unique features in mind, we’re confident TAM-1 is going to change the way the commercial and digital development of these countries will happen in the coming years.
