The Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands has completed a deployment of submarine and terrestrial fibre optic that guarantees connectivity for the Teide and Roque de los Muchachos observatories. The investment, amounting to €23 million, is funded by European NextGenerationEU funds.
The Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) has launched a redundant fibre optic network that connects the Teide (Tenerife) and Roque de los Muchachos (La Palma) observatories to the Peninsula. The project, which has involved an investment of €23 million, eliminates the risk of losing scientific data due to any technical or environmental incidents.
Two sections for secured connectivity
The infrastructure is divided into two parts. The submarine section, costing €16.8 million, guarantees the IAC a minimum transmission capacity of 1.5 Tbps for the next 25 years. This cable directly links La Palma with Tenerife and, from there, to the Peninsula via 10 Gbps and 100 Gbps channels.
The terrestrial section, on the other hand, required an investment of €5.8 million and a usage right for 30 years. This enhancement doubles the connection between the La Palma Astrophysics Centre (CALP) and the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, as well as between the central headquarters in La Laguna and the Teide Observatory.
The project has been developed in collaboration with RedIRIS and the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures (SETELECO), with funding from the NextGenerationEU Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
Beyond science: benefits for the community
The deployment not only benefits astronomical research. The new network will allow the local community and other public institutions to access stable connectivity in remote environments such as Teide or Roque de los Muchachos. This opens the door to advanced solutions for emergency management in summits and national parks, as well as boosting astrotourism and digital tourism.
Moreover, the overall improvement of connectivity services across the geographical area will represent a qualitative leap for residents and visitors.
“This infrastructure multiplies the value of science and consolidates the Canary Islands as a safe and competitive territory for international astronomy,” the IAC states.
Canary Islands, a scientific attraction hub
Next-generation telescopes generate enormous volumes of data that must be processed and sent in real-time. With this redundant network, the IAC completely eliminates the risk of disconnections during observations. The director of the IAC, Rafael Rebolo, has highlighted that “this technological milestone ensures the continuity of the data highways of the Canary observatories.”
The initiative strengthens the Islands' position on the international stage, attracting the attention of large scientific consortia looking for reliable locations for their projects. For the Canary reader, this translates into a cutting-edge environment that generates qualified employment and opportunities in sectors such as tourism or emergency management.
The network is already operational, and the IAC expects its impact to be felt in the coming months, both in research and in the daily life of high mountain areas. Those who venture through the summits of Teide or La Palma will notice, perhaps unknowingly, a more stable and faster connection.
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