• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
In a scenario of unprecedented growth in global digital infrastructure, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) plays a strategic role in ensuring the country continues to consolidate its position as one of Latin America's leading connectivity hubs.
While global investment in new submarine cable systems is projected to exceed $16 billion between 2026 and 2029, according to the specialized firm TeleGeography, the institution oversees the technical, operational, and security conditions that enable the installation and protection of this critical infrastructure for international telecommunications.
TeleGeography projects that this will be one of the largest waves of investment in submarine cables in recent decades, driven by the growing demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence, data centers, and the sustained increase in global information traffic.
In this context, the AMP technically evaluates proposed routes for the installation of new submarine cables, verifies their compatibility with other maritime activities, supervises laying operations, updates nautical charts, and coordinates actions to protect the areas where this infrastructure is located.
Although administrative concessions for the installation of submarine cables are granted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Panama Maritime Authority plays an essential role in ensuring that these projects comply with navigation safety and national maritime space protection criteria.
Currently, seven submarine cable systems traverse Panamanian jurisdictional waters, consolidating the country as a strategic node for regional connectivity. According to ProPanamá, this infrastructure supports 100% of regional internet traffic, 97% of international telephone traffic, and 90% of regional data transmission, factors that strengthen the country's competitiveness in attracting investments in data centers and technology companies.
The growth of this network continues. In early 2026, the TAM-1 system arrived in Panama, a submarine cable approximately 7,000 kilometers long with a capacity of up to 650 terabits per second (Tbps) that will connect the country with the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Additionally, Panama will be a landing point for the future MANTA system, a new project that will link the country with the United States, Mexico, and Colombia, further strengthening its role as the digital bridge of the continent.
The protection of this infrastructure also represents a permanent challenge. Between 2008 and 2019, incidents recorded in Panamanian waters caused losses exceeding $11 million, mainly due to damage caused by vessels anchoring on submarine cables. To reduce these risks, the AMP maintains mechanisms for technical evaluation, inter-institutional coordination, and protection of the routes where this critical infrastructure operates.
The growing global demand for data exchange capacity reinforces the importance of the work carried out by the Panama Maritime Authority. Through the regulation, supervision, and protection of submarine cables, the institution contributes to strengthening maritime security and Panama's position as one of the main digital interconnection points in the region.
