NTT Communications (NYSE: NTT) is synching up with fellow Asia-Pacific-based service providers Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), StarHub and Telekom Malaysia to build the new $430 million Asia Submarine Express (ASE) submarine cable system.
Set to be completed by June 2012, the new 40 Gbps capable submarine cable system will initially link Japan to Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Malaysia. Although the cable initially supports 40 Gbps, it can support future 100 Gbps network needs.
Following the completion of the initial routes, NTT and its carrier partners will build out a separate route in December, while connections to Mainland China and additional Southeast Asian countries are expected to be launched in collaboration with major carriers in these markets.
Besides creating a system that can address the region's growing capacity needs, the ASE is being designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, particularly in areas such as the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan, where a number of undersea earthquakes disrupted international communications in recent years.
Both Fujitsu (Other OTC: FJTSF.PK) and NEC (Other OTC: NIPNF.PK) will both oversee project management of the new cable system. Under the terms of the agreement, NEC will provide necessary equipment such as submersible plant such as repeaters, OADM branching units and cables, the power feeding equipment and submersible plant monitoring system, while Fujitsu will oversee the installation of submarine line terminal equipment and the management controller.
For more:
- see the release
- TeleGeography has this article
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