 56 M a r Voice 2011 of the ISSN 1948-3031 Industry

Finance & Legal Edition ISSN 1948-3031 Submarine Telecoms Forum is published bimonthly by WFN Strategies. The publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, hen I was working in Today we are seeing such actions in without the permission of the publishers. Southampton for BT Marine a countries experiencing internal strife. Submarine Telecoms Forum is an number of years ago, I had the In a number of articles in this issue we independent com­mercial publication, W responsibility of overseeing the process consider various state attempts to limit serving as a freely accessible forum for professionals in industries connected with where the company was compiling and their populace from the outside world at submarine optical fibre technologies and publishing its history. As a Yank who a time of crisis. techniques. thought anything older than the 1950s Liability: while every care is taken in was practically ancient, I was amazed to Many countries, including my own, preparation of this publication, the possess the means for a legally codified publishers cannot be held responsible for review old company documents, ship logs, the accuracy of the information herein, or etc., from a number of interesting “jobs,” internet “kill switch.” Only its virtue any errors which may occur in advertising seems debatable. or editorial content, or any consequence including those from the world wars. arising from any errors or omissions. In WWII, one of the first waves of The publisher cannot be held responsible for any views expressed by contributors, Operation Overlord was a Post Office and the editor reserves the right to edit any cableship that began laying toward advertising or editorial material submitted for publication. Normandy the day before D-Day in order Contributions are welcomed. Please to arrive at the beaches soon after they forward to the Managing Editor: were supposed to be secured. Cableships As a postscript, our thoughts go out came under frequent enemy fire, and one especially to our Japanese colleagues and PUBLISHER was sunk under suspected friendly fire by others affected by Friday's devastating an American submarine. Wayne Nielsen tsunami. Tel: +[1] 703 444 2527 Cutting off an enemy from the rest of Email: [email protected] the world has been a war tactic since the advent of submarine cables. One of the EDITOR first naval operations of World War I, for Kevin G. Summers instance, was a Post Office cableship that Tel: +[1] 703 468 0554 began cutting cables off the German coast Email: [email protected] soon after war was declared.

2 Copyright © 2011 WFN Strategies In This Issue...

Exordium 2 Turning-Up 40G Submarine 26 Conferences 47 Wayne Nielsen Networks Francis Audet, Mai Abou-Shaban A Funny Thing Happened... 48 News Now 4 ENTELEC 2011 30 Letter to a Friend 49 Under Siege: Losing Some 7 Jean Devos Pipes, Losing Lots of Money Jed Duvall It Takes A Village: Submarine 34 Advertiser Index 50 Cable Workshop at PTC’11 What Libya Learned from 12 Judi Clark Coda 51 Egypt James Cowie Kevin G. Summers We Can Do It: 39 Is it Time for a Bypass of the 17 Women In Telecommunications Luzon Strait? John Hibbard Engineering Meredith Cleveland

Building a Submarine Cable: 20 Back Reflection 44 Navigating the Regulatory Stewart Ash & Kaori Shikinaka Waters of Licensing and Permitting Andrew D. Lipman, Nguyen T. Vu

COVER: Cairo, Egypt - February 2, 2011: A man stands above the crowd in Cairo's Tahrir Square to wave the Egyptian flag during a particularly bloody day of an 18-day revolution that would overthrow President Hosni Mubarak. As the man waves the flag, pro-government forces are attacking anti-government demonstrators on the edge of the square, out of view. 3 iStockphoto®, ©jcarillet, Egyptian Revolution. News Now  Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (ATNI)  End-to-End Optical Test Solutions on  Infinera Selected by MedNautilus for Upgraded by Zacks Investment Display at Anritsu's Booth During Mediterranean Subsea Network Research to "Neutral" OFC/NFOEC 2011  Interoute boosts network resilience in  Brazil, Angola to study building  FCC wants status reports on 50 Germany with acquisition of KPN's underwater fiber-optics cable submarine cable communications dark fibre network systems  Cuba-Venezuela: Fiber Optic Cable  Interoute Comments on Egyptian Joins Venezuela, Cuba, Jamaica  Fujitsu and NEC win Asia Submarine- Blackout cable Express (ASE)  Cuba-Venezuela: more Internet,  Interoute Completes First European greater risk  Glo 1 and Main One Short-Sighted? PIC-based 100G Transmission on Subsea Network  E-marine signs new maintenance  Global Marine Systems announces and storage contract for I-ME-WE Great Eastern Group as US East Coast  LIME Completes US$35 Million Submarine Cable System distributor for its "Predator" ROV Undersea Link

 Egypt: It’s all too easy for regimes to  Huawei Marine Wins BDM Turnkey  Main One Cable Chooses Cisco to draw in the Net Supply Contract to Bridge Malaysia Take Broadband Capacity in West and Indonesia Africa to the Next Level  MainOne encourages innovation  Photos: From transatlantic telegraph  UK Shetland Islands Micro Trenching amongst Nigerian Youths cables to modern fibre optics their Way to Superfast Fibre Optic Broadband  Malawi sets aside $55m for fibre-optic  Reliance Globalcom Selects Ciena network for 40G Ultra Long Haul Submarine  Verizon Ready to Activate Capacity Network on Europe India Gateway Submarine  NEC said to win 30 billion yen Cable System undersea cable order  SEA-ME-WE 4 cable system to upgrade with 40G/100G  WACS a Reality  Offshore Marine Management obtains technologies, significantly increasing cable storage facility at Nordenham its overall capacity  WACS lands in Namibia

 OFS Introduces TrueWave HD Fiber  Seychelles communications to be  WACS: Namibia enters new era for Medium and Long Haul Ocean transformed following European Systems Investment Bank support for first  WFN Strategies Nominated For The international fibre-optic link President's "E" Award For Excellence  Pacific Crossing Appoints New CEO In Exporting  Sify Becomes the First ICT Player to  Pacnet Joins New Cloud Computing Have Submarine Cable System  WFN Strategies Partners With Initiative in China MTN Ghana To Provide Technical  Subcom To Provide First 40G Consulting For The Offshore  Pacnet Launches Sydney Data Centre Upgrade Of A Trans-Pacific Cable Broadband Project System  Pacnet Simplifies Data Backup and  Yenista Expands Sales and Marketing Storage with New Cloud Service  Telekom Malaysia to Build 400-Km Team Cable System With XL, Mora  Pencan-8 launched by Telefonica  Yenista Sets the Standard with New O-Band Tunable Laser SubTel Forum Awards We are currently taking nominations for the 1st Annual Submarine Telecoms Forum Awards.

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The Innovation Award will go to the company or organization that has produced the best best market innovation of the previous year.

The Industry Achievement Award will go to an individual or company that has done the most for the industry.

The Editor's Award will go to author of the best SubTel Forum article.

Please submit your nominations by 30 April 2011.

Finalists will be profiled in the May edition of SubTel Forum (Issue #57) and the winners will be announced in our July edition (Issue #58). Winners will receive a physical award that they can display in their office as a keepsake.

Please send your nominations to: [email protected] Under Siege Losing Some Pipes, Losing Lots of Money

Cairo, Egypt - February 11, 2011: Egyptians in Cairo's Talaat Harb Square celebrate the just-an- nounced resignation of their president of 30 years, Hosni Mubarak. This brought an end to 18 days of protest in which some 300 people lost their lives.

iStockphoto®, ©jcarillet, Egyptian Revolution. Jed7 Duvall ith Tunisia, then Egypt, then Libya aboil with protests, world Wattention has focused on the social and civic effects of the shutdown of communications. The Mubarak government, under siege and failing, ordered the cutoff of the Internet in Egypt; there was a great deal of talk about how this backfired, sending people into the streets when their computers died. Little notice was given to the enormous amounts of money lost by telecoms and businesses that depend on the ‘Net. The losses are “in the billions,” one official said. Who is going to measure those losses? Will anyone bother? Publicly, at least, no one seems to be attempting the count.

In Egypt, the Internet went down on Friday, January 28th. Telecom Egypt, Raya, Link Egypt, Etisalat Misr, and Cairo, Egypt - February 11, 2011: A woman holding an Egyptian flag dances atop a car on Talaat Harb Street in Internet Egypt all went dark a few downtown Cairo, part of a massive street party celebrating the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt minutes after midnight. for 30 years. The car roof didn't fare so well. iStockphoto®, ©jcarillet, Celebrating freedom in Egypt. The Mubarak government’s order to cut of the night, and orders a shutdown. For Dean Lawrence Pintak of Washington off service was accomplished quickly For those who resist, as Vodaphone State University in Pullman, it was no and easily. According to Ian Bedford, reportedly did, the government threat surprise. Pintak, a veteran television Vice President for Global Sales at is made clear. As Dean Pintak relates it, news correspondent, was based in Cairo Interoute Communications, Inc., “there “they call up and say flip the switch, or from 2005 to 2009. During that time, he were just a handful of people operating else we will flip it ourselves, and if we said, “the ‘Net came into Egypt on a single the Internet” connections in Egypt. Mr. do it, the recovery will be much longer, submarine cable...several times when I Bedford, interviewed by this reporter harder and more expensive.” The screens was in Egypt the place lost all Internet. A over a conference call U.K. to U.S.A., began to go dark, one by one. It took only trawler might cut the cable,” or there was tells a story that matches that of Dean a few minutes. As Mr. Bedford notes, some other malfunction. “Once in ’08,” Pintak. The government calls the Internet “there are, inevitably, single points” of Pintak added, “it was out for 24 hours.” technician(s) on the phone, in the middle vulnerability. 8 A government contract with a For the dictator -- any dictator, anywhere -- communications provider, Mr. Bedford shutting off the Internet and the telephones adds, provides for just such a shutdown, is far easier than calming or dispersing the of course. “Governments can impose angry crowd. And the electronic cutoff sanctions,” he says, “government can that was so easily accomplished in the control the internet.” Mr. Bedford points dark of night in Egypt only served to make out that the government contracts the stirring mobs even more determined. with providers contain shutdown Nonetheless, as Ian Bedford and others provisions. Furthermore, Egyptian law point out, Egypt is an important link, gives authorities the right to order a something of “a gateway to and from the disconnection, at the threat of loss of middle east.” Even though the Internet license to operate. How about connections was restored in a few days, the Interoute between two private entities? “Even executive noted, “a few major operators between two corporate entities,” the lost lots of pipes” and the dollar losses executive noted. Is a telecom company may never be fully calculated. entitled to a penalty payment of any sort from the government when that authority David Keyes is the director and co-founder orders a shutdown. “No,” was the clear of CyberDissidents.Org in Washington, answer from Mr. Bedford. D. C. In an email on Feb 25th, Mr.Keyes said, “From Morocco to the Gulf, not one The government action worked only in country has total free speech where you cutting off information exchanges of the can criticize the king or president without electronic sort. An unnamed Vodaphone fear of retribution. We’ll have to wait and worker in Egypt, quoted in the February Cairo, Egypt - February 11, 2011: A car of Egyptian see what kind of policies each of these new 28th edition of the New Yorker Magazine, men drive over the 6th of October Bridge in down- governments institutes vis-a-vis Internet said “even after the phones went off...there town Cairo, holding their flag proudly and cel- freedom and freedom of speech more was a kind of national telepathy of where ebrating the just-announced resignation of Hosni generally. It’s just too early to tell, I think. Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for 30 years. to go.” Many of the constitutions of the Middle iStockphoto®, ©jcarillet, Happy Egyptians and flag. East make it a criminal offense to insult Readers of Submarine Telecoms Forum religion or the state leader. Until this is may wish to check out a nifty website relied on Renesys data. More recently, changed there can be no free speech.” which keeps track of this sort of Internet Renesys has kept track of when Libya was interruption, and many things in the world disconnected from the ‘Net, and when What happens in the United States? of communication. It is www.renesys. signals were -- somewhat -- restored. Can an American president turn off the com. Renesys is a privately-held company By early March, with a promise of large Internet? For more than two years a bill based in Manchester, New Hampshire protest demonstrations on Friday, the 4th, to give the president the power to turn that calls itself the Internet intelligence the Google Transparency Report show off the ‘Net has been considered in the U. authority. For its February 16th chart on that, as Renesys put it, “Libyan query S. Senate. Leaders in both parties seem 9 the cutoff in Egypt, the New York Times traffic had fallen to zero.” inclined to support the measure put forth planning new systems.” Systems that, as Mr. Bedford said, “will be larger and more resilient.” Indeed, Interoute advertises itself as “future-proofed.” Asked what that means, Mr. Bedford said “that means we don’t have legacy problems, we don’t have copper wires; we have oodles of fiber.”

That’s what communication executives like: oodles of fiber. More counterweight against those who would attempt to control thought and information exchange. The people won’t wait. Those in the Middle East and elsewhere will always have that telepathic telegraph. But engineers must keep designing work-arounds, because even as screens went dark in Egypt and then Libya, millions of hearts and minds were lighting up. They will not soon go dark again.

Cairo, Egypt - February 20, 2011: Two young men hold the Egyptian flag at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, nine days after the historic resignation of President Hosni Mubarak iStockphoto®, ©jcarillet, Egyptian flag at Pyramids. Jed Duvall worked as a reporter for WBAL-TV- by Lieberman of Connecticut and Collins to the attempts of governments to control AM-FM in Baltimore, MD. of Maine. It would give the president the information. Matthew Finnie, CTO of From 1967 to 1982 he was authority to declare a “cyber emergency” Interoute, via spokesperson Katie Swan, and shut down the flow of information. wrote about the then-failing Egyptian a CBS News correspondent Privacy advocates are wary of the bill, government’s action in shutting down the in New York, Los Angeles, Saigon, Atlanta but some of the largest communications Internet, and said it nicely: “This level of and Washington. He covered the Vietnam companies are making favorable noises control by a single government at a major War and Watergate coverup trial as well as about it. There could be some legislation crossroads for the Global Internet is surely various presidential campaigns including by the end of 2011. In the meantime, has a concern that needs to be addressed by the FCC circumvented the legislative opening up greater diversity or routes to Fred Harris, Walter Mondale, Ted Kennedy. process with their Net Neutrality Act? the region.” He was on ABC “Nightline,” and anchor for “Good Morning America.” Jill and Jed The communications industry, under the Mr. Finnie’s colleague at Interoute, Ian Duvall raised four children and now live in sea and over the ground, feels it needs to Bedford, said there are “a few vulnerable semi-retirement in Rappahannock County, build a system that can quickly respond points which we know about” and “we are 10 Virginia. 11 What Libya Learned from Egypt

Liverpool, England - February, 19 2011: Public pro- test against Libyan problems in Liverpool. A group of people protest against recent events happened in Lybia in the streets with signs and flags.

iStockphoto®, ©ilbusca, Public protest against Libyan problems in Liverpool. 12 James Cowie ibya's nationwide Internet blackout is entering its second full day. From La technical standpoint, it's clear that this is a very different strategy than the one used by Egypt in the last days of the Mubarak regime. The ultimate outcome is probably going to be the same. Let's take a few minutes to compare the two, and think about the implications for future Internet engagements in the Jasmine Revolution.

First, the facts as we know them. We observed nearly every host inside Libya becoming unresponsive on the afternoon of Thursday, March 2nd. You could attempt to "ping" them, send a traceroute along the path to them, try to retrieve pages, try to look up domain names ... but in nearly every case, there was no response. Simultaneously, we heard reports that all of the classic Internet communication services like Skype were down, and external websites were unreachable. To Liverpool, England - February, 19 2011: Public protest against Libyan problems in Liverpool. A group of people top it off, the Google Transparency Report protest against recent events happened in Lybia in the streets with signs and flags. showed query traffic from within Libya iStockphoto®, ©ilbusca, Public protest against Libyan problems in Liverpool. flatlining, and not recovering. So far, these symptoms match what is it? That's because the Libyan Internet is was experienced during the Egyptian actually still alive, even though almost all Internet blackout traffic is blocked from traversing it. The pretty closely. But the BGP routes to Libya are still intact, which underlying technical means that the Libyan ISP's border routers i m p l e m e n t a t i o n are powered on and the fiberoptics are lit. In couldn't have been fact, we've identified a handful of isolated more different. Look live IP addresses inside Libya, responding very closely at that to ping and traceroute, and presumably Google plot again, passing traffic just fine. Someone in Libya and observe the floor. is still watching YouTube, even though the It's not perfectly flat, rest of the country is dark. 13 Implementation was straightforward because of centralized control of the Internet economy: Libya doesn't have five independent Internet Service Providers with international connectivity, as Egypt did. They have just one, Libya Telecom and Technology (LT&T). Founded in 1997 and run by the Gaddafi family, LTT was folded into the state-owned GPTC (General Post and Telecommunications Company) in 2004. Each Internet route to Libya, and therefore all of the traffic to Libya, flows through this one provider's infrastructure. So on Thursday afternoon, like turning off a tap, the stream of traffic was slowed to a trickle, and then to a few drips.

This tactic makes all kinds of sense from the government's perspective. The Internet is a valuable wartime resource, like a critical bridge over which supplies can flow. As long as you can deny it to your enemy, you Liverpool, England - February, 19 2011: Public protest against Libyan problems in Liverpool. A group of people don't blow it up — you keep it intact for protest against recent events happened in Lybia in the streets with signs and flags. your own use. iStockphoto®, ©ilbusca, Public protest against Libyan problems in Liverpool. Throttling the Internet to the point of Libya vs Egypt: A Different Strategy Egypt's part. It signalled to the world that uselessness, instead of killing it outright, the Egyptian government considered itself also delayed International recognition of Why did Libya put its Internet in out of options, ready to cut off internal the fact that the Internet was down during 'warm standby mode' instead of just communications and external dialogue, the most critical period. Most international taking it down, as Egypt did? Perhaps looking for a last chance to turn off all the media didn't clue into the fact that the because they're learning from Mubarak's cameras and clean out the Square. Libyan Internet had gone silent until experience. Cutting off the Internet at the after the sun had gone down in Tripoli routing level (powering down the Internet We expected to see something similar on Friday. By taking a softer route to exchange point, going after the remaining happen in Libya as the crisis came to shutdown, the government deprived the providers with secret police to enact a a head, and on Thursday afternoon, opposition of much of the international low-level shutdown) was a technically the government appears to have taken "flash crowd" of attention and outrage that unsophisticated desperation move on action ahead of Friday's Day of Rage. 14 an unambiguous "kill switch" tactic might multiday all-routes blackout. On 19 and national communications at any cost, and have garnered. 20 February there were two consecutive pick up the pieces later. That's why the nights of routing-based blackout, but in Internet is too vital to be left in the hands Conclusions each case, service was restored the next of centralized authority, and it's why you morning, at reduced levels. Through should press for more diverse Internet Using denial of Internet access as a political the course of the following week, traffic connectivity wherever you happen to live. weapon during crisis events is all about continued to grow, not only from Tripoli, timing and messaging. Mubarak waited but from eastern provinces where the Jim Cowie is the Chief too long to implement his blackout, and government was no longer in control. Technology Officer, and Co- then let it run past the point where the founder of Renesys. He has more damage to the Egyptian economy and That message couldn't go unanswered. than 15 years entrepreneurial the cost of international outrage exceeded The current blackout, which probably and software development the dwindling benefits to the regime. In signals the onset of the endgame, comes experience in high performance the end, all the Egyptian government too late to contain the message. Together computing, network modeling and simulation, accomplished was to attract the sort with restrictions on journalist movement, web services, and security. Prior to founding of sympathetic attention and message it will provide temporary cover for some Renesys, Jim was a principal at Cooperating support from the Internet community that of the endgame brutality, and for that Systems, a consulting services company that is pure oxygen to a democratic opposition reason, it's deeply sad. provided rapid software prototyping and movement. You can't buy that kind of technology planning for advanced research and press! When some future government faces development in academia and industry. With a this decision, backed into a corner by a long standing interest in the Internet’s impact Libya faced this same decision in the popular uprising supported by Internet on security and collaboration since 1995, he runup to civil war, and each time, perhaps communication, they will probably authored the first web-based collaborative learning from the Egyptian example, reach the same conclusions that Libya environment for cryptographic key factoring. they backed down from implementing a and Egypt did: reestablish control over Jim is the primary architect of SSFNet, the first open-source network simulation framework to support transparent parallelization and multiprocessor execution. Jim holds a B.S in computer science from Yale University.

This article originally appeared on:

15 16 Is it Time for a Bypass of the Luzon Strait?

17John Hibbard he Luzon Strait lies between the in the reverse direction around the globe. Philippine island of Luzon and Overland routes were considered but these TTaiwan. It is the waterway which have major challenges as they cross borders, connects the South China Sea to the Pacific and the terrain can be hostile. Ocean. It is a passage not just for ships but also for the submarine cables connecting In August 2009, there was a second major South East Asia to Japan and the USA. These interruption in the Luzon Strait. Typhoon cables carry traffic from India to all the Morakot, just off Taiwan, caused another Pacific Rim countries. The cables also carry mudslide this time disrupting 6 major traffic from the Far East to Europe, Middle cables. The global network was again in East and Africa. They represent an important havoc. Fortunately, due to lessons learned element in the mesh of cables which girdle from the 2006 event, not quite to the same the earth. There are nearly a dozen cables extent. Mesh networking involving cable which traverse this narrow waterway of links both eastward and westward around less than 300 kms. It is quite congested. the globe helped ameliorate the impact to a These cables have the potential capacity of degree. They say lightning does not strike over 50 Tbps and so represent an essential in the same place twice. But here nature did artery for global telecommunications and strike twice. And if it could do it twice, it the economic wealth of nations. Even more could do it again. cables are planned to be routed this way. Of course the Luzon Strait is not the only When is enough actually enough? Can issue with the South China Sea routing for the world afford to put its global business many cables. SCS is a main shipping artery at increasing risk? This is a dangerous and that raises greatly the potential for cable waterway. On Boxing Day 2006, an cuts. So even though mesh networking may earthquake at the southern tip of Taiwan do something to reduce disruptions, it still triggered a massive mudslide which prompts the question “Is it time for a bypass crossed the strait breaking 8 cables in 16 to the Luzon Strait?” places. It was a mess. Connectivity was Going west from Asia might seem like severely interrupted and effectively cut SE the answer but that route is certainly not Asia off from the internet. Chaos reigned for immune. There were dual breaks off Egypt, some time as few alternative routes existed. The consequence of this catastrophe was a recent cuts off Malta and interruptions in Fixing the cables was challenge due not genuine focus on the need for real diversity. the vicinity of the Arabian Gulf. So what just to the paucity of cable-ships to repair Putting both cables of a loop system through might be the answer? so many breaks but also to the difficulty in the strait was a recipe for disaster. New finding cables in the mud and identifying routings had to be found. However there For the last decade there has been a dormant which was which – they don’t have their aren’t many options. The principal response plan for a cable for Guam to SE Asia, be it name on the outside! was to take advantage of cables connecting Indonesia, Singapore or Malaysia, via a 18 SE Asia with Europe and to send traffic route south of the Philippines. Guam has become an even more significant Pacific hub with multiple cables landing there ( TGN, n 11 March, just China-US, AAG, Australia Japan Cable, before this issue PPC1, Hantru, GP and several cables to the went to press, Northern Marianas). There are 3 existing O Japan was struck with a cable stations, so Guam is well positioned massive 8.9 magnitude for connectivity. earthquake, the worst in that nation's recorded The distance from Guam to Singapore via history. the Luzon Strait is approximately 5500kms, whereas via the route between Mindanao T h i s m a g a z i n e h a s and Borneo is around 5000 kms so latency featured several articles would not be increased. Direct connection covering the use of into Jakarta is possible. So is access to other submarine cables to warn locations such as southern Philippines, the and track earthquakes and Indonesian archipelago through the Palapa tsunami waves. Morgan ring, and Malaysia, both east and peninsular. Heim wrote an excellent It would to have practical appeal. piece called "Telegraphing Should such a cable be built, who might a Tsunami" in Issue 50, want to control the landing station to garner and in that same issue was the benefits? Who want to have capacity in an article about Jamstec's the cable? Who might want to part of any "Project Donet." construction entity? The requirement is definitely there – it is just a question of who In spite of the tragedy in Japan, it appears At press time, there have been no will be the first to make the move. that these early warning systems were announcements of cable breaks, though able to telegraph the path of the tsunami Chunghwa Telecom is reporting "some John Hibbard is a leading as it raced across the Pacific Ocean. damage" to a cable system near Kita, consultant in international When the wave smashed into Hawaii Japan. Data transmission has not been t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , at 3:30 am local time, the citizens were interuppted, however. Meanwhile, both particularly in the development prepared. Hotels on Waikiki moved land and mobile telephony have failed. of submarine cable projects. He tourists to the 3rd floor, and the streets Our thoughts and prayers go out to all has over 40 years experience were practically empty. Furthermore, the people affected by this disaster. in the telecommunications industry, mostly the NOAA West Coast and Alaska in international activities and submarine Tsunami Warning Center was able to cables. He is now President of the Pacific time the path of the Tsunami almost to Telecommunications Council and Chairman of the minute, saving untold numbers of its Board of Governors. lives.

19 Building a Submarine Cable: Navigating the Regulatory Waters of Licensing and Permitting

Andrew D. Lipman

20and Nguyen T. Vu iven the rising global demand for additional bandwidth has been especially obtain all of the requisite permits and licenses, data, telecommunications companies prominent in emerging markets in Africa, coordination of licensing and permitting is Garound the world are scrambling to Asia, and the Middle East. In fact, there are critical to the success of a submarine cable add bandwidth capacity on international at least nine publicly announced submarine build-out. and intercontinental submarine cable routes. cables either under construction or in the Over 95 percent of overseas communications planning stages around Africa. In emerging markets, obtaining the required are now carried by submarine cables, as the licenses and permits is generally more difficult, increased capacity, speed, and security make Companies have sought to keep pace with as these markets tend to have less developed submarine cables the preferred medium for this growing demand by constructing new legal and regulatory regimes while subjecting transporting data. Data and voice transfer submarine cables to connect points throughout applicants to additional “red tape,” and the over these cables is not only cheaper, but the world. Indeed, construction of subsea overall application and review process is less also quicker than via satellite. According to cables is no longer limited to traditional transparent. Many jurisdictions also have recent reports, international bandwidth usage telecommunications carriers, as large users “localization” rules that require the use of has been growing at close to 60% year over of telecommunications capacity are now the local labor force for construction, or other year during the past few years. Demand for participating directly in consortia to build professionals such as attorneys licensed in that and operate submarine telecommunications jurisdiction to submit the applications for the cables. licenses and permits. Moreover, construction of submarine cables may also be met with Construction of new submarine cables, opposition from commercial fisherman’s however, can be tempered by the licensing unions or other seabed users. and permitting process and country-specific regulatory regimes that may stand as U.S. Regulations Concerning roadblocks to the rapid deployment of new Submarine Cable Systems international submarine cable systems. There are a number of different permits Regulatory Issues Related to and licenses required to land and operate Building a Submarine Cable System a submarine cable in the United States. In addition to the Federal Communications There are a multitude of regulatory issues Commission’s (“FCC”) telecommunications involved in submarine cable licensing and licensing requirements, other federal, state, permitting that can dramatically affect the time and local permits are generally required. The and cost for such projects. Many countries number of authorizations required depends on require that the builder of a subsea cable where the cable lands, and whether the cable system obtain a telecommunications license passes through any environmentally sensitive and a separate submarine cable license issued areas. Obtaining these federal, state, and local by the relevant communications regulator. permits can be onerous and may take up to 12 Depending on the jurisdiction, the process or more months. for obtaining these licenses can take months. Other permits may also be necessary, including On the federal side, cable owners are required defense or national security authorizations, to obtain a cable landing license from the FCC, environmental permits, and permits for permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, construction and land use. To effectively and – depending on whether the cable goes 21 as to whether the cable will be operated on a If, however, a proposed licensee plans to common carrier or private carrier basis, and operate the cable system on a common carrier ownership information. basis or is unable to make the above showing, the FCC’s rules require the licensees to operate Parties to the License Application the facility as a common carrier facility and Under the FCC’s cable licensing rules, all obtain authority to provide international entities that: (1) own or control a U.S. landing telecommunications services under Section station, or (2) own or control a five percent or 214 of the Act. The Section 214 application greater interest in the cable system and will is submitted at the same time as the cable use the U.S. segments of the cable system must license application and the authorizations are be parties to the cable license application. generally granted concurrently. In other words, all such entities will be co- “Team Telecom” Review licensees. In addition, all original owners of the cable, regardless of the amount of their While acquisitions of U.S. telecommunications ownership interest, must be identified in the carriers and network operators (including application, although they do not have to submarine cable licensees) by non-U.S. be licensees if they do not meet the criteria persons have been subject to national security discussed above. review for a number of years, more recently, however, “Team Telecom” -- an ad hoc task Section 214 Authorization force comprising the Departments of Defense, for Submarine Cables State, Homeland Security and Justice, through a National Marine Sanctuary – a In addition to obtaining a cable landing including the Federal Bureau of Investigations permit from the sanctuary superintendent. license, which authorizes the installation of that examines such deals -- has begun to the submarine cable facilities, a service license review new submarine cable landing license FCC Approval Process under Section 214 of the Communications applications as well, particularly as most Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), may be subsea cable applications have some form of All submarine cables landing in the United foreign ownership or participation. States must be licensed by the FCC. This license required. Many submarine cable systems is issued pursuant to the Submarine Cable in the United States are operated on a non- Although Team Telecom is an ad hoc group, the Landing License Act of 1921 and Section 1.767 common carrier basis. That means that the review process is fairly well-trod, especially in of the FCC’s Rules. The FCC has established owners are not legally compelled to serve the the context of new submarine cable licenses. a streamlined cable licensing process that can public indifferently and may sell capacity on an The FCC provides copies of applications with result in a license being granted within 45 days individual case basis. To obtain non-common foreign ownership to the Executive Branch of the date the application is put on public carrier status, the operator must show that for review. Team Telecom then typically asks notice. The application consists of a description there are alternative common carrier facilities applicants to answer a set of questions (referred of the submarine cable, including the type and available on the cable route and that there to as the “triage questions”) concerning issues number of channels and its capacity, a specific are no reasons implicit in the nature of the such as how call data and other information description of the cable landing stations in the operations of the cable system that demand will be stored, how data will be secured, United States and the foreign countries where common carrier treatment. If this showing is and who will have access to the applicant’s it will land, a map showing the geographic made, no additional FCC authority is needed network and data. In most cases, Team to operate the cable. 22 coordinates of all landing stations, a statement Telecom will ask the FCC to defer granting the license application until Team Telecom Third, and most substantively, actively Other Federal Authorizations has completed its review. This typically engaging Team Telecom puts the applicant in results in the removal of the application the best position to suggest and craft solutions In addition to the FCC cable license, submarine from streamlined processing at the FCC and to any law enforcement and national security cable systems must obtain a federal permit from the withholding of FCC approval until Team issues in a more favorable manner, including the Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) Telecom’s review is complete. Team Telecom’s negotiating any eventual conditions, such as under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and review of submarine cable applications, a national security agreement (“NSA”) that Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of however, tends to be substantially more time- Team Telecom may eventually require. 1899 (the “Rivers and Harbors Act”). Section consuming than a review of a Section 214 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act governs all application. Moreover, given that the FCC will Foreign persons should not be dissuaded from work in or affecting navigable waters of the not grant a landing license until Team Telecom entering the U.S. market. While the path to United States, while Section 404 of the Clean has approved, it is unlikely that a license will approval may be a bit more winding than in Water Act governs discharges of dredged or be issued in less than six months. the past, and in most instances applicants will fill material into waters of the United States. likely be required to enter into an NSA or other If an individual permit is required for the Although applicants can wait for Team form of national security commitment, nearly project, the Corps must first complete an Telecom to receive their applications from all projects can ultimately receive approval. environmental review under the National the FCC, most applicants are proactive and Moreover, the government is amenable to a Environmental Policy Act before issuing the contact Team Telecom immediately upon filing variety of ownership and control structures permit. The Corps must also consult with an FCC application (and sometimes before provided that their basic security concerns the applicable federal resource agencies filing). There are several advantages to this are addressed satisfactorily in the NSA or (such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approach. Most obviously, contacting Team other security commitment. Parties must be and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Telecom can move the application closer to flexible and creative, but there is still room Administration’s National Marine Fisheries the top of Team Telecom’s list and thus speed for foreign investment in the U.S. submarine Service) under the Endangered Species Act if review. Second, it allows the applicant to cable market. the project has the potential to affect protected begin to characterize its application for Team species. 23 Telecom and answer any questions promptly. When the Corps issues a permit in an over tidelands and submerged lands adjacent Andrew Lipman has spent more area where a state also asserts regulatory to the coast and offshore islands of the state. than 30 years developing the jurisdiction (limited to three miles off shore), firm’s Telecommunications, it must receive from the state a consistency Streamlining the Licensing Media and Technology Group into determination under Section 307(c)(1) of the and Permitting Process one of the largest practices of its Coastal Zone Management Act, stating that In order to handle the myriad of federal and kind in the nation. He practices in the activities authorized under the permit state permits, applicants -- either the subsea virtually every aspect of communications law and are consistent with the state’s Coastal Zone cable sponsors or their suppliers, depending related fields, including regulatory, transactional, Management Plan. In addition, a Corps permit on the division of permitting responsibilities litigation, legislative and land use. The TMT Group for any discharges in an area under concurrent in the cable’s supply contract -- generally is international in scope, representing clients in the state jurisdiction requires a certification from convene a pre-application meeting with all U.S., Central and South America, Europe, Asia the state under Section 401 of the Clean Water federal, state and local agencies that may have and other parts of the world. Act that the authorized activities will be jurisdiction over the project. In general, most Nguyen Vu’s practice includes consistent with state water quality standards. of the permit applications require detailed Furthermore, in some cases special approval is representing wireless and information on the location of the cable and wireline carriers before the Federal required if the cable goes through a National its potential environmental impact. Moreover, Marine Sanctuary. Communications Commission, most of these permitting processes involve state utilities commissions and State and Local Authorizations public consultation proceedings and can foreign regulatory authorities become politically charged. Past cable projects, in a wide variety of regulatory, rulemaking and On the state and local side, the permits required have resulted in substantial opposition licensing proceedings. Nguyen also advises depend on the state and municipality in which from environmental and fishing interests. Internet communications and infrastructure the cable lands. For instance, California has Although these disputes have ultimately service providers on market entry, licensing and some of the most onerous environmental been resolved in most cases, they can result regulatory obligations in Africa, Asia, Europe and permitting requirements of any state in the in delay and substantial additional costs. As the Middle East. country. If a cable project in California requires such, having sufficient lead time to obtain all an approval from a state or local agency and if applicable permits and having knowledgeable the landing of the cable may have a significant and experienced advisors in this area is critical effect on the environment, an Environmental to securing all necessary approvals for timely Impact Report (“EIR”) will be needed under commencement of operations. the California Environmental Quality Act. The EIR process can take several years, especially for projects that are controversial, that are challenged by aggressive project opponents, or that are located in environmentally sensitive areas.

Depending on the route and landing point for the proposed cable, a coastal development permit could also be required. In some states, approval may also be required by the state 24 lands commission, which exercises jurisdiction

TURNING-UP 40G SUBMARINE NETWORKS

Francis Audet and

26 Mai Abou-Shaban rom the planning stage to the are performed, including tests such as bit The three main drivers behind each deployment of an undersea fiber- error rate (BER). upgrade are: service providers want to optic cable, a considerable amount use existing fibers and network elements F This application note will review the of time, money and resources are invested to maximize revenues from infrastructure to ensure the success of the submarine challenges brought forth by the advent of already in place; they want to improve network. Yet one point that is often 40 Gbit/s transmission, and will describe operation flexibility, which translates overlooked during this process, and the in-depth importance of every test, into more efficient provisioning and which can lead to unfortunate delays, where and how they should be performed; increased revenues from new services to is the final acceptance test of the fiber— what’s more, we’ll examine a case study of their customers; and they want to increase simply put, this comes down to making a trans-Atlantic dispersion acceptance test the density of the network elements to sure that the fiber can deliver on the that was performed earlier this year. optimize central office space and power promised and expected bandwidth. This consumption. However, upgrading from 10 final acceptance test is often ignored since Gbit/s to 40 Gbit/s, or even to 100 Gbit/s, legacy data rates are considered as being has a significant effect on the tolerance to extremely challenging to transmit. Yet optical impairments such as the level of with the deployment of 40 Gbit/s, newer noise with the signal, CD and PMD. and more serious challenges are at hand, and in order to face them, they must be Both CD and PMD have been known facts understood and properly prepared for. for almost a decade now, yet testing these To do so, some critical physical layer tests parameters on OC-192/STM-64 is not must be performed, including dispersion always done de facto. But now, with the testing, such as chromatic dispersion current penetration of 40 Gbit/s, CD and PMD are becoming an even bigger issue. (CD) and polarization mode dispersion Context New 40 Gbit/s transmission rates come in (PMD). Tests that were considered as As the demand for bandwidth continues being of some importance at 10 Gbit/s, many flavors, yet even the most resistant to grow at a tremendous pace in OC-768/STM- 256 (40 Gbit/s) can only have become unavoidable at 40 Gbit/s submarine networks, service providers transmissions. Once these parameters tolerate a fraction of what OC-192/STM- have no choice but to ride the wave and 64 (10 Gbit/s) can accept—both in CD have been fully qualified and optimized, adapt their networks so that they can offer the system turn-up test must then be and PMD. The typical acceptable CD rate more services to their customers. Yet with is around 10% of the 10 Gbit/s tolerance performed. These include signal power new technologies rapidly approaching, level and optical signal-to-noise ratio levels, while PMD tolerance is typically service providers are faced with numerous at 25%. This means that PMD values that (OSNR) measurements, important in difficult choices. In this context, upgrading both repeated transoceanic or festoon were previously considered as acceptable, from a 10 Gbit/s to a 40 Gbit/s advanced may not be anymore. links. Finally, the network end-to-end modulation format becomes a necessity— level qualification must be done; this is but not at any price. Moreover, CD compensation schemes where all the relevant SONET/SDH tests 27 were effective at 10 Gbit/s, yet the residual compensation is much too high Residual Dispersion at and therefore the Lambda Zero (nm) PMD (PS) for 40 Gbit/s transmission rates and PMD 1550 nm (ps/nm) conclusions. This specifically was never compensated— Fiber 4A 1552.02 -1060 3.928 clearly proves the either it was ‘hoped to be good’, or it was Fiber 4A repeat 1552.04 -1065 Not tested importance of CD tested more often and when it was too high, and PMD tests for the fiber was limited to lower speeds. But Fiber 5A 1551.86 -978 1.65 40 Gbit/s submarine chromatic dispersion was compensated Fiber 5A repeat Not tested Not tested 185 d e p l o y m e n t s , via simple dispersion-compensating regardless of whether modules (DCMs), which are deployed These results were in the range expected: it operates at 10 automatically and installed by system CD compensated properly and therefore, Gbit/s flawlessly. The second parameter vendors. On the other hand, accurately was barely low enough for 10 Gbit/s, but to be monitored in 40G networks is testing for this parameter allows one to was clearly out of specifications for any OSNR, which is an excellent way to fine-tune each stage of compensation, as 40 Gbit/s. PMD was below the 10 Gbit/s provide a representation of all the optical well as to perform (if required) end-to- tolerance, but one of them, fiber 4A, did not noise effects. Typically, there is a direct end compensation adjustments to remove pass the 40 Gbit/s typical PMD tolerance relationship between the OSNR and the excess residual dispersion. The following (2.5 ps being the typical value). BER; therefore, higher OSNR leads to a case study highlights the importance of lower BER. CD and PMD measurements in 40 Gbit/s To prove the accuracy of the test submarine deployments. measurements, loopback tests were OSNR is generally measured by using the performed. CD being linear, looping it on interpolation method, as recommended itself should result in doubling the value. in IEC 61280-2-9. This method is based CASE STUDY PMD being stochastic, the total expected on the assumption that noise level is This case study examines the submarine value would be the quadratic sum. The generally flat between and under adjacent network going from the UK to New York, results are as follows: peaks. Unfortunately, the interpolation which was tested for dispersion parameters. approach is not possible when the peaks The one-way trip (UK-USA) was 6008 Residual are very closely spaced—as with large 40 km in length, and was comprised of 144 Lambda Zero Dispersion at PMD Gbit/s signals or ultra-dense wavelength- (nm) 1550 nm (ps/ (PS) erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). nm) division multiplexing (UDWDM)—and Two fibers were tested: A4 and A5. The crosstalk becomes dominant over ASE Fiber 4A 1552.08 -2247 5.284 following tests were performed: CD and Looped noise, see figure 1. PMD on fiber A4, CD was performed Fiber 5A 1551.95 -2025 Not twice to validate repeatability; CD and Looped tested PMD on fiber A5, PMD was performed twice to validate repeatability. The results Both loopback results are within the were quite revealing, as follows: expected range of value (considering the test equipment uncertainty), confirming 28 the validity of the single direction tests achieve accurate and including tests such as bit error rate. These repeatable OSNR are only some of the tests that at 10 Gbit/s m e a s u r e m e n t s are important, yet become mission critical in 40G networks. at 40 Gbit/s transmissions. Finally, qualifying the OC-768/STM- Francis Audet joined EXFO 256 40G payload in 2000 as the Senior Product is an essential part Line Manager, Optical of turning up 40G Business Unit. After earning submarine links his university degree in physics and is typically engineering from Université conducted through Laval, Francis began working for Gentec the end-to-end, BER Electro-Optics in 1998, where he held a position Figure 1. A case where interpolation is not test across the network. With this test, of Technico-Commercial Engineer in the sales possible: when the noise under the peaks is not service providers can be sure that all new department and in 1999, he was promoted flat 40G circuits in service are proven capable to Sales Director. Francis’ sales experience combined with his technical background and In this case, an innovative method based of handling any of the demanding services communication skills have helped him reach on advanced analysis using fundamental that may be placed on them in the future. the position he holds today. differences between signal and noise, Therefore, these test routines and more, namely polarization and spectral when performed without the proper Mai Abou-Shaban brings to characteristics, allows an adequate test equipment, can prove complex and EXFO her extensive experience measurement of the noise within the cumbersome to perform. in optical transport networks in channel, without having to turn off the addition to working with major transmitter. This approach is referred to Conclusion telecom accounts in Americas, as in-band OSNR measurement and takes With the deployment of 40 Gbit/s and EMEA and Asia. She holds a advantage of built-in polarization diversity higher, new challenges are at hand as Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from detection combined with a polarization discussed above. In order to meet those Concordia University, Montreal, QC. Mai has controller to measure the power versus challenges, they must be understood 13 years of experience working for public and the wavelength on two polarization axes and planned for properly. Some critical privately held companies in the areas of systems for multiple polarization states; thereby physical layer tests include dispersion engineering and product management. discriminating between the polarized and testing, such as chromatic dispersion non-polarized power and isolating the (CD) and polarization mode dispersion noise from the signal inside the channel. (PMD). Further, network end-to-end level Relying on sophisticated algorithms qualification is required where all the that work concurrently on the signal relevant SONET/SDH tests are performed, 29 shape enables the user to automatically ( / * 7 & * ) $ "

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59 he ENTELEC 2011 Conference & Expo is our legal counsel represented by Keller & be able to interact with the panelist on the returning to Houston, Texas for the 83rd Heckman LLP. emerging M2M communications process and Tannual event. Located at the George it’s wide range of applications. R. Brown Convention Center, the show “Boardwalk Pipeline Partners welcomes the gathers 1500 pipeline and gas technology opportunity to be involved on the ground floor of The Wireless RF Shoot-Out will feature professionals for quality education, technical this effort to bring together vendors and users in panelists from Aruba, Cisco and more training and an exhibit hall featuring more the energy industry in a way that promotes our discussing “What’s next on the horizon for than 200 companies. This year’s event will be mutual interests in the regulatory arena,” said wireless? The panelist will discuss the future held May 24-26, 2011. Mr. Tom Frobase, inaugural co-chairman of road maps and technology advancements in the committee. wireless 2.4 GHz and other spectrums. The Energy Telecommunication and Electrical Association (ENTELEC) is a broad community In addition to the launch of the new Regulatory advancing knowledge of communicating Committee, the 2010-2011 Board of Directors “ENTELEC is the avenue for individuals technologies throughout the entire energy and Technical committee members have who work and support the energy field to industry. ENTELEC is a user association listened to the feedback from past attendees share information, learn about new technology that focuses on communications and control and put together an event featuring more while integrating with older equipment and technologies used by petroleum, natural gas, opportunities for knowledge sharing, peer systems, having the opportunity to meet pipeline and electric utility companies. Since discussions, technical training opportunities, others throughout the industry - both vendors 1928, ENTELEC’s primary goal has been to 101 sessions and networking events. and corporate members - who can help provide an educational platform for these “The ENTELEC association is a community,” answer questions/solve problems and expand industries, including technical presentations, states Joel Prochaska, ENTELEC President, the individual’s knowledge. The conference exhibits and networking opportunities during “Our goal is to provide our community with and seminar format allows the participant the annual ENTELEC Conference & Expo. the information and educational opportunities to obtain information and knowledge from to meet the ever-changing industry demands others while having time to experience first- We are excited to announce the launch of the and the responsibilities they face in their hand new equipment and hardware.” Richard new ENTELEC Regulatory Committee to careers.” Nation, Copano Energy. address pressing regulatory developments of interest to the membership at the Federal A highlight of this year’s event features a Technical Presentations Communications Commission (FCC) and change to the much anticipated “Vendor Shoot- Past ENTELEC attendees continue to attend the elsewhere. All members of ENTELEC are Out”. This year, the conference will feature annual Conference & Expo for many reasons, eligible to join the Committee. This year’s two “Shoot-Outs”. The M2M (Machine to including: Increasing their professionalism, Conference & Expo will allow current and Machine) technology Shoot-Out will feature a advancing their careers, taking advantage future members to discuss the newly formed panel of experts from Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile of the latest products and services, learning committee with current board members and and Texas Energy Network. Attendees will from industry experts and the opportunity to 31 as well as engage in real world application their daily lives, our keynote speaker, Dan discussion and have access to live equipment. Thurmon, will kick-off the conference with his philosophy “You will never achieve perfect The Control Microsystems Lab will offer balance. You are in a constant state of being off technical “hands-on” training sessions balance, making adjustments in one area of life targeted to O&G prodction supervisors, that affect other area’s in your life.” This hour- automation technicians, well analysts and long discussion is intended to help attendees SCADA engineers. The sessions will cover embrace a realistic, empowering approach to well/pad controller configuration and how work/life balance. A complete Schedule of to leverage high-resolution data gathered by Events can be found at the ENTELEC website the controllers for production optimization. at www.entelecshow.org Both technical training labs will be offered on Wednesday and & Thursday for all full- Exhibit Hall conference attendees. The ENTELEC exhibit hall allows attendees to be among the first to see the latest products 101 Training Series will be offered to released in the marketplace. Over 200 ENTELEC attendees. SCADA 101 Training manufacturers, dealers and distributors will network with the leaders in their field. Above will provide attendees with an overview of offer a variety of products and services that all, attendees have expressed their desire and the basics of SCADA, including terminology, serve the oil, gas and utilities industries. This a need for technical training programs that field devices, communications, architecture, year’s exhibitors currently include: Telvent, are geared towards the Communications data acquision strategies, control room Motorola, GE Digital Energy – MDS, Sprint Technologies in the energy industry. management, alarm management, security Nextel, Honeywell, Evolution SCADA, and more. RF 101 Training is designed to Emerson Process Management and many, This year’s conference features over 30 hours introduce very basic concepts in designing and many more.The exhibit hall is open Wednesday of technical training programs. A few session understanding microwave systems. Attendees from 10:00am to 5:00 pm and Thursday from titles include: “80211n – Why Now?”, “IP will identify some of the issues and the types of 10:30 am – 2:30 pm. Convergence for SCADA”, “Pushing Network decisions needed to make be made as students Intelligence to the Edge”, “Securing Wireless consider implementing a microwave network. Networking Events SCADA Networks,” “Using Microsoft Networking 101 Training will provide a solid Meeting new colleagues and reconnecting with Windows as a HMI/SCADA Platform,” and understanding of networking terminology industry peers is one of the most anticipated “New Control Room Management Regulations and radio interfacing for technicians and benefits of attending the ENTELEC Conference and the impact on SCADA. network managers. Students attending this & Expo. This year, the planning committee, course will participate in a lecture style has the week jam-packed with events for Hands on In addition, the event will feature presentation with real life examples and attendees and exhibitors. Training Technology Labs. GE in the The instructor demonstrations. MDS Technology Lab will provide a wide Tuesday Welcome Reception range of basic skills required to understand Off Balance – On Purpose “Happy Hour” at the Four Seasons the structure and operation of the presented The theme of this year’s conference is This year’s Welcome Reception “Happy wireless equipment. The “hands on” “Achieveing Balance – Integrating Technology: Hour” will kick-off the start of the ENTELEC practical exercises will allow participants the Past, Present and Future.” As our members 2011 Conference & Expo. Attendees can grab a opportunity to learn from other participants 32 and attendees strive to achieve balance in bite and a cocktail and mingle with peers and exhibitors in the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel. It’s a fun and casual way to unwind!

Wednesday Networking Mixer Wednesday is an action-packed day from start to finish, wish is why the end-of-the day networking reception is always a good time. Located in the Exhibit Hall, attendees can talk “shop” with industry peers, hook up with colleagues and meet the best this industry has to offer.

Thursday President’s Reception at Lucky Strike Attendees are asked to bring their “A-Game”. Attendees and the ENTELEC Board of Directors’ will gather at the hippest joint in town for an evening of bowling, billards, great food and cocktails. It’s a relaxing way to end the conference!

In addition to our receptions, breakfast and lunch is served each day at the convention center.

With all these offerings, the show will provide attendees with even more compelling reasons to return to Houston for the 82nd Annual Conference & Expo. Professionals interested in more Conference & Expo information, or membership information for ENTELEC can visit their website at www.entelec.org

33 It Takes A Village Submarine Cable Workshop at PTC’11

34Judi Clark ith all of the rough weather this winter, and rough economics of Wthe last few years, it’s nice to have a momentary break. The Pacific Telecom Council’s annual conference, January in Honolulu, Hawaii, was an informative break for me. This four day conference began with workshops on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. What intrigued me on the very first day: WFN Strategies’ three-part workshop on Submarine Cable.

I attended only the first of the three parts: Infancy: Developing the Connection. I was interested in hearing the perspectives that the speakers represented: Simon Cooper represented Owners, Andrew Lipman represented Finance/Legal, and Michael Rieger spoke for Suppliers. This session was ably moderated by Guy Arnos, whose aim was to give us perspective on how it all gets started. Given the diversity of interests in the global cable market, I was curious to learn how these groups work (Left to right) Mike Reiger, Andrew Lipman, Robin Russell, Simon Cooper, Guy Arnos, Wayne Nielsen together in these challenging times. players, especially early on, that the project design & procurement, such as inter- Guy Arnos started the discussion with is a worthy investment. Talking about Asia or WACS-West African Cable) the question “What does it take to get a investments in the undersea cable market, program off the ground?” Cooper outlined several project models: Cooper continued, “All parties need to share the risk and fill the pipes at revenue First up was Simon Cooper, SVP of Consortium (largely carriers’ opportunities levels that [funders] believe in to get Network Strategy & Architecture, such as in the middle east, which have a a project off the ground. If you have a Tata Communications of Singapore. more organic growth and the lowest risk), sufficient part of the project funded and Representing cable system owners, Cooper Private cable (single carrier/ workable business model, great!” noted that financing was a good idea as the entrepreneur, such as SEACOM and process is “two and a half years of fun!” Pipe Pacific Cable. This model emerges Next up was Andrew Lipman, Partner with Cooper stressed the need to convince where there is a new need), and Bingham McCutchen, USA. Lipman stated 35 Partnerships (lead cable from that the best lawyers know how to balance aggression with delicate handling. “To get transparency in the process, and unique the FCC, and matters of licenses and fees. a cable project done, it takes more than a local rules and requirements. Lipman In the U.S. you do need a license from village” (due to substantial bureaucracy). cited additional political considerations, FCC, including authority to construct and Lipman showed that Trans-Atlantic including those representing fishermen’s operate, as well as a landing license and capacity and requirements are growing. unions and other seabed users. Cable Section 214 authorization. A significant This raises a number of regulatory issues, landing stations can also be problematic. distinction between working with common especially around coordination. There While beach access is less so (it’s handled and private carriers is that common carrier is a need to coordinate licensing and at a national level), beach manholes to is subject to FCC rules, which include non- permitting with construction activities CLS are often difficult due to municipal discriminatory access, reasonable prices such as telecom licenses, landing sites, and permitting processes. and terms. permits (environment, defense/national security, local construction and land use). As a case study from the U.S., Lipman The FCC may compel common carrier explained that defining telecom and status, and that’s a thin line based on things Typically, licensing and permitting is more information services are critical. There like insufficient capacity, characteristics difficult in emerging markets due to less are several parties and interests involved, like competition, or if the carrier serves developed regimes, more red tape, less including common and private carriers, groups of users, etc. Private carriers don’t have same rights (e.g., eminent domain, rights of way, interconnections, etc.) and obligations as common carriers do. Cable licensing: application requirements (US government is more intrusive about/ focused on equipment these days, also nationality/ownership info). Authority of other US Government entities: DOJ, DOD, Dept of State, DHS, Commerce’s national Telecom/Info Admin… get started with these groups early. Environmental auth: Section 10/404, others. Rights of way/ zoning: property acquisition, state/local permitting. It’s more than a village, it’s a bureaucracy!

Robin Russell added that building a cable is a bit like making a movie. It’s about getting the money, which is not so easy these days for many reasons. Banks are not prepared to take risks. Most governments Andrew Lipman addresses the audience 36 around the world are scrambling, and that the technology is not done with to clearly describe a number of project satellites. Russell cited the Australian elements: the project’s validity, technical Tax Office decision, stating that it’s ok for and pre-sales support, anticipated a buyer to treat a cable investment as a capacity and revenue levels that are depreciable, but to a seller the investment involved, any planned debt sourcing, is considered a part-sale of an asset. The equity and financing, also if there are effects depend on structure of the business privacy sovereignty issues, planned model. Russell also offered an observation: interconnecting agreements, partnering, there is a significant risk of new fees and and other collaboration issues. Make sure taxes coming out of this situation. We need you have an effective program to manage to find some way, as an industry, to express cash flow, and can show program viability. our common concerns. This seemed very reasonable. However, with so many moving parts it’s a wonder Finally, Michael Rieger, VP, Sales, TE any individual or small group of planners SubCom LLC, USA took the mic to offer would remember all of it. a process overview about supplier roles in project development. The first task is Rieger continued with suggestions on how to design the concept to support customer to future proof your project. Make sure you projects, then to define alternative cost understand local regulatory challenges, and scheduling approaches. Next, support and work collaboratively with customer project financing process, develop flexible local supply chain partners. Get project implementation models, and project finance assistance, for example through assistance from suppliers. Rieger next pre-sales (a wholesale chunk). It helps to outlined the customer stages: define assist in financial structuring by working the project, define the system, identify with customer’s banks (establishing and secure financing, then project business cases and relationships), and implementation. As for supplier aid: to sponsor and support applications to budgeting, scheduling, high level design, government agencies and equity partners. Motoyoshi Tokioka gives a presentation and feasibility studies. All of these pieces Rieger painted a flexible picture with a lot need to work together. of support connections and opportunities. need to be cautious about what might The take-away message is that a project happen in the sub-sea cable industry and On defining the system, Rieger stated the planner needs to clearly define the project telecom generally. need for good detail in describing your criteria, the time elements (including time project, including the demand, the capacity and cost of permits), pre-sales options, He suggested that the industry needs a involved, whether a project will use fiber and your plan of work for flexible project common voice. He offered an interesting pairs or branching, the initial equipment, strategies and partners. Again, this makes example. Submarine cables are not and routing/permitting requirements. sense and helps me understand the need well understood in government circles: To obtain financing, the planner needs for shared industry best practices. what they are generally, or the fact 37 The biggest hurdle to suppliers are concept credibility (especially for funding) and to develop some best practices to help our project models that are working around sales commitments. Financial sponsors are processes of development, deployment the world, and to get a feeling for the not looking through a rear-view mirror, but and operations. This is also true for matters process flow that’s involved. I will admit look through the windshield. Remember concerning taxation. “The dog is awake.” to being surprised that there is no group that lenders are risk averse. They may Regulators, tax authorities are looking representing the common interests in this know something about cable, but not the for revenue opportunities too, and this industry, especially with as much time industry! also calls for a collective need to act as an and energy as is obviously being invested industry. We need rational programs put in developing global undersea cable Rieger spoke about permitting, noting in place. It helps to view what connectivity projects. It’s one matter to be involved in that this and other processes are extremely adds to each country’s GDP. In India as a technology with such a strong global reactive. Again Rieger suggested the need many other areas, government is trying to impact. It’s quite another to have that to create a lobbying group. Especially as figure things out too. work misunderstood, or treated as an governments change, the industry need It was fascinated to learn about the various interpretable financial act.

The work is complicated and depends on many factors and interests. It is timely and urgent that the industry come together and find their common voice, help to establish best practices for the evolution of the industry, and perhaps most importantly to help others (including politicians) understand and support the global connectivity and opportunity that this industry represents.

Judi Clark has been helping people understand computer-based and communications-oriented tools and technologies for over 25 years. She has lead advocacy and training programs on practical uses as well as explorations into cutting edge trends, future- focused scenarios and policy planning. One of Ms. Clark's blogs is www.ManyMedia.com

Robin Russell at the podium 38 We Can Do It Women In Telecommunications Engineering

Meredith

39 Cleveland ess than seventy years ago, US have found that I have been encouraged engineering is still overwhelmingly women began the first mass more than my male equivalents in my male. In 2009, less than eleven percent Lmovement into the technological career choices. However, it should be of all employed engineers were female field. Not as secretaries or stenographers, noted that I am young, relatively new (according to the National Science but as factory workers, military on the job scene, and my experiences Foundation) and telecommunications personnel, and yes, engineers. Recently, may not be representative of women in engineering certainly fits into this during my daily browsing of CNN.com, I telecommunications as a whole. statistic. Frequently, this means a female stumbled across article that described the telecommunications engineer may be impact that scores of women engineers There are certain facts that cannot be the only woman on a project team or made during WWII. Unbeknownst to me, denied. The field of telecommunications in a business meeting, a potentially women engineers during the war made sophisticated calculations concerning weapons trajectories, worked on some of the earliest versions of computers and did some of the world’s first “computer programming.” While at the time they were only considered temporary substitutes for their male counterparts at war, these women were instrumental as the front-runners for their gender in the science and technology fields. Sadly, they were never recognized for their achievement until recently. As a woman breaking into a technological field, I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice and boundary pushing these women accomplished during their careers, whether intentional or accidental. As a young professional engineer, I have had to endure none of the discrimination and stigma that used to be attached to a woman technologist. I have never been told to choose a different path or that that I was not capable of a Lathe operator machining parts for transport planes at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation plant, Fort Worth, task due to my gender. If anything, I Texas Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-fsac-1a34951 Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division 40 Washington, D.C. 20540 USA What happens promotion opportunities, though, is the when female real issue – and the reasons for this are engineers decide very unclear. It is unfair to put the onus they want to have of the blame directly on discrimination; children? instead, it is possible that women find it difficult to network and move up the These issues and career ladder in male-dominated compa- more plague wom- nies. This has inspired some companies en across the board to start female mentoring networks, al- in not only engi- though whether they are making a dif- neering but a vari- ference or not is yet to be seen. ety of professional fields. It is impos- However, this being said, there are sible to say whether plenty of women who are clearly dealing engineering (and with these issues and still moving telecommunica - up the promotion ladder within the tions specifically) is telecommunications field. I recently any better or worse attended a breakfast meeting held at than other indus- the 2011 Pacific Telecommunications tries. However, ac- Conference held by the Global Telecom cording to an article Women’s Network, whose mission Woman aircraft worker, Vega Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif. Shown checking electrical assemblies published in TIME statement includes networking Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-fsac-1a34456 Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA magazine in last opportunities for executive women, April, women engi- mentoring of younger women managers, intimidating experience for those neers leave their jobs at a much higher and contributing to “the to the evolving unaccustomed to it. This situation, than average rate over other sectors. global information society in a positive depending on the people in room, can While some of these women leave to manner”. I listened to women from a certainly cause some problems. Does start families, the percentage that do so variety of different positions within the the woman feel the need to prove herself for that specific reason is proportionate industry, including engineers, speak as capable (or more so) than the other to non-engineering industries. Instead, about their experiences, both professional engineers? If she is a manager, is it what makes the number so high is due to and personal. There were several more difficult when her staff is all men? complaints with “pay and promotion op- women in attendance that had families This line of questioning, once started, portunities”. This trend extends to oth- and children, some just returning to the is difficult to discontinue: will they still er male-dominated fields such as finan- workforce and others who had remained be viewed by their male counterparts as cial management and economics. Why in their positions when they had serious engineers or as equals? these women are dissatisfied with their children. For the most part, their stories 41 were positive, and while there was some motivated attitude as a supportive engineering field may be a long, ongoing debate on whether the proverbial “glass mentor. These women refused to see process, those of us in the midst of it can ceiling” exists for executive women in or treat themselves as minorities, and continue to further our case by doing the telecommunications industry, all therefore, those around them did the excellent work and maintaining a non- the women in attendance agreed that a same. While an encouraging company victim stance. We’ve come a long way supportive company or mentor was the was invaluable to their successes, from the days when women were not key to their accomplishments. Looking their optimistic approach was just as even recognized for their achievements around the room of strong, capable important. in technology, but we still have more to businesswomen, I realized this belief go in making engineering a completely could be taken a step further. Ultimately, In the end, this attitude is the same friendly industry. the pathway to success in a male- held by the early female engineers dominated field is as much a positive, during WWII. While the woman’s Meredith Cleveland is a fight for equality and recognition in the Project Engineer for WFN Strategies. She received a BS in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia and her MS from the University of New Hampshire in Earth Sciences with a specialization in Geochemical Systems. She is a trained scientist with areas of expertise in running highly specialized instrumentation as well as data collection, management, and interpretation.

The female staff of WFN Strategies, taken at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, PTC week 2011. (Left to right) Kacy 42 Nielsen, Peg Nielsen, Meredith Cleveland, Heather Case. 43 Back Reflection by Stewart Ash & Kaori Shikinaka Intellectual Property Disputes; Bourseul explained: “Suppose that a man sentence spoken using it was reported to Nothing Changes! speaks near a movable disc sufficiently be “Das Pferd frisst keinen Gurkensalat” flexible to lose none of the vibrations of (the horse doesn’t eat cucumber salad). th th arch 7 was the 135 anniversary the voice; that this disc alternately makes It is thought that this was the first device of the United States Patent Office and breaks the currents from a battery: to actually be called a telephone. Clearly, Maward, to Alexander Graham Bell you may have at a distance another disc any of these men have better claims to the of his much disputed US Patent 174,465 which will simultaneously execute the invention of the telephone than Bell, but “Improvement in Telegraphy,” which was same vibrations.... It is certain that, in a whether he was entitled to a patent as the the first patent for the telephone. Bell’s more or less distant future, speech will inventor of a workable design is another valuable patent became the subject of be transmitted by electricity. I have made matter entirely. controversy and litigation, and as such is experiments in this direction; they are an appropriate subject for our article in this delicate and demand time and patience, In 1871, Meucci set up an electrical voice edition of Subtel Forum, given its Legal & but the approximations obtained promise communication system between the Finance theme. Contrary to what most a favourable result.” Although this clearly basement and the first floor of his Staten of us were taught in school, Bell did not described the necessary principles of Island home, and shortly afterwards invent the telephone. There is significant a telephone, Bourseul did not go on to submitted a “patent caveat” to the US doubt as to whether he was entitled to the produce a working apparatus. It is now Patents Office in Washington D.C. A US patent he received, or that he was the widely accepted that in the same year, patent caveat (discontinued in 1909) was author of the liquid transmitter idea that Antonio Santi Giuseppe Meucci invented an instrument set up under the US Patents made the invention practical. the first successful electrical device for Act of 1836, which was similar to a patent application. It was required to contain a Frenchman Charles Bourseul wrote the communication of speech. In 1860, a German, Johann Philipp Reis made description and drawing of an invention, an 1854 memorandum that was first but no claim. It was effectively a notice of published in the Paris magazine a device that could transmit musical notes as well as indistinct speech and, intention to submit a patent application at L’Illustration concerning the transmission a later date. The filing fee was much less of the human voice by electrical current. on occasions, distinct speech. The first 44 for a caveat than a full application, and the but as a method of multiplexing telegraph Baldwin, stating that he had been made signals. Under Gray’s instructions, his aware that Bell’s application had been lawyers filed a patent caveat with the US signed by him and notarised on 20th patents Office on Monday, 14th February January 1876. Baldwin advised Gray and 1876. The caveat contained a diagram his sponsors to drop the claim, which they from Gray’s note book showing the liquid did. Bell’s patent application, submitted transmitter he had invented. On the same on 14th February, does show that it was day, Bell’s lawyer’s hand delivered a patent signed by Bell on 20th January. However, application to the US Patent’s Office for a it appears that the vital information, that similar device. This application did not made the patent viable, contained in seven contain a diagram of the transmitter. There sentences and Claim 4 on the application, is some dispute as to which application was only added to the document on 13th & arrived at the Patent Office first. According 14th February. Gray had told nobody about to Gray, his caveat arrived in the morning his invention until Friday 11th February (about 09:30) several hours ahead of Bell’s 1876, when he instructed his lawyers to application (around 11:30). Bell’s lawyers file the caveat. Another interesting fact insisted that the filing fee was registered is that Bell kept meticulous and detailed in the ‘Cash Blotter’ (ledger) immediately. notes of all his experiments, and it wasn’t The fee for Gray’s caveat was not entered until 8th March 1876 that the breakthrough caveat expired after a period of one year, into the ledger until 13:30, so it is an diagram of the liquid transmitter appears, although it was renewable by payment of a undeniable fact that Bell’s filing fee was out of nowhere, in his notes. This diagram further annual fee. Meucci twice renewed recorded in the ledger ahead of Gray’s. is remarkably similar to the diagram his caveat, but in 1874 he neglected to or The patents examiner Zenas Fisk Wilber submitted by Gray with his caveat, which was unable to do so, and thus he opened initially suspended Bell’s application and should have been confidential. the door for others to claim the prize that Gray’s caveat for three months to allow has been described as the most lucrative Gray time to file a full application. He later Conspiracy theories abound as to what in US patent history. A US House of lifted the suspension, based solely on the actually happened. Neither Wilber nor Representatives resolution, set down in evidence of the ledger, as to which filing Baldwin comes out of it with much credit. th 2002, stated, “if Meucci had been able to pay was delivered first. Bell was awarded the In a sworn affidavit from 6 April 1886, th the $10 fee to maintain the caveat after 1874, patent on 7 March 1876, less than one Wilber admitted that he was an alcoholic no patent could have been issued to Bell.”. month after filing, a remarkably short who owed money to his long-time friend time, especial considering that he was not and Civil War army companion Marcellus The story of the awarding of the famous able to provide a working patent model, Bailey–Bell’s lawyer. Wilber says that patent pits Bell against Elisha Gray. Bell and as required by the regulations, until 10th after he issued the suspension on Bell’s Gray had both been working independently March. patent application, Bailey came to visit. on what was then called the “harmonic In violation of Patent Office rules, he telegraph,” not for speech transmission This irregular course of events followed told Bailey about Gray’s caveat and then 45 shortly after Gray’s lawyer, William D. proceeded to tell his superiors that Bell’s caveat to Bell’s lawyers over the weekend rest, as they say, is history. patent application had arrived first, of the 12-13 February. based on the ledger evidence. After the Telephony, of course, played a major suspension on the application had been Whatever the rights and wrongs of this role in the submarine cable industry, lifted, he claimed that during Bell’s next patent award, the debate goes on to this and for a period of just over thirty years, visit to Washington, “Prof. Bell was with me day. In 1876, the telephone had arrived, roughly between TAT – 1 (1956) and TAT an hour when I showed him the drawing although the public did not take to it – 8 (1987), it was the dominate technology [of Gray’s caveat] and explained Gray’s straight away, nor was it an immediate for submarine cable system transmission. methods to him.” He said Bell returned commercial success. Later in 1876, Bell The Telephony Era was characterised by at 2 pm to give him a hundred-dollar bill. and his partners, Hubbard and Sanders, monopoly international carriers, usually Wilber made five other affidavits prior to offered to sell the patent to Western Union government owned, and the “Big Four” this, but only the one dated 21st October for $100,000, but Western Union baulked submarine system suppliers. AT&T 1885 directly contradicts this story. Wilber at the opportunity, describing it as Submarine Systems Inc. (now TE Subcom); claims it was “given at the request of the merely a toy. In 1877, the Bell Telephone Alcatel Submarcom (now Alcatel-Lucent); Bell company by Mr. Swan, of its counsel,” Company was incorporated, and by 1878, STC Submarine Systems Ltd (now part and he was “duped to sign it” while drunk when Western Union were prepared to of Alcatel-Lucent); and “Japan Inc” and depressed. These conflicting affidavits pay $2.5M for the patent, Bell no longer (comprising Fujitsu, NEC and OCC). totally discredited Wilber. wanted to sell. It was Baldwin who advised Gray to It took until January 1878 for the world’s abandon his caveat and not turn it into first telephone exchange to open in New a patent application, because he told Haven Connecticut. In Europe, the him that Bell had invented the telephone telephone was slow to establish itself as before Gray, and Bell’s application was well; the first Bell exchange in London notarized before Gray began his caveat. went into service in the autumn of 1879, Baldwin urged Gray to write a letter to Bell followed by one in Manchester. The first congratulating him on his new telephone licenses to operate the Bell telephone in invention and state, “I do not claim even France were awarded in September 1879; the credit of inventing it...” Baldwin also Germany’s first exchange was opened in appears to have failed to represent Gray’s Berlin in 1881 and Belgium had its first interests properly in later patent cases. It exchange by 1882. Two examples of the further appears that Baldwin was on the Bell telephone were imported into Japan payroll of the Bell Telephone Company at in 1877, and a year later domestically the same time he was representing Gray manufactured replicas appeared. It wasn’t in a different patent office action involving until 1890 that the first telephone service the Bell Company. There is a strong school between Tokyo (155 subscribers) and of thought that Baldwin or someone in Yokohama (42 subscribers) started, using his company leaked the details of Gray’s the Gower – Bell telephone set. And the 46 Global Submarine Cabling Forum 28-30 March 2011 Reykjavik, Iceland Conferences Website ICPC Planery Meeting 12-14 April 2011 Singapore Website

International Telecoms Week 2011 23-25 May 2011 Washington, DC USA Website

ENTELEC 24-26 May 2011 Houston, Texas USA Website

Submarine Networks World Africa 2011 25-28 July 2011 Singapore Website

Submarine Networks World 2011 27-29 September 2011 Singapore Website

Pacific Telecommunications Council 15-18 January 2012 Honolulu, Hawaii Website

47 A Funny Thing Happened...

48 The very first Marseilles-Algiers cable was Letter to a a telegraph line laid in 1871, and at the war declaration in 1939, there were 10 Marseilles- Maghreb cables in service. The cable ship Arago spent the war in Oran and Algiers protecting Friend the systems. These cables have played an important role; the names of “Mers el Kebir” in Algeria, “Tobruk” in Libya, and “Al Alamein "in Egypt are all well known. The battle of Al Alamein, in the desert, was a turning point in the war. Churchill would say later on, “We had no victory before Al Alamein, no defeat after it”

During my time in Calais we produced France- Morocco (1967), Marseille-Tel Aviv (1968), Marseille-Bizerte (1969), Marseille-Beyrouth (1970), Beyrouth-Alexandria(1972), Marseille- Algiers2 (1972) Penmarch-Casablanca (1973), and Perpignan-Bizerte(1975).

Jean Devos One of my first jobs when I took the responsibility of Submarcom in 1977 was to negotiate Marseille- Tripoli (Libya), and Syria- In cha’Allah, these nations. The technology is shaping a new Greece. Quite an experience for a young 40 world, and I predict that all the cables we are year old! During a good part of my professional life, presently laying around Africa will also bring from 1960-1980, I spent a lot of time working significant changes in the future. One of my numerous surprises during this time with the South Med countries, the Maghreb was to realize how often these very capable (West) and the Mashreq (East). I cannot count If ASN is today a significant submarine system and highly educated guys were saying, “In cha the number of trips that I took to Morocco, provider, it is, in good part, thanks to the Med Allah” (God willing) during our discussions. Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, Cairo, Beyrouth and countries and their people. When I joined this I learned that it was part of their culture to Damascus! A lot of old friends’ names and industry as a young engineer in 1961, my first never say ”I’ll definitively do that tomorrow” faces are springing back into my mind when job in Calais was to work on the production of without adding, “if God is OK”. Actually, it's looking at the TV as of late. And I keep saying the Perpignan-Oran cable. Marseille-Algiers not that different from our “thank God” or the to myself, “at last!” had recently been installed in 1957, just after French “Grace à Dieu.” More surprising was a short experimental cable in Tunisia (Kelibia- the discovery that the parabolic language that I enjoy thinking that such events are made Bou Ficha). These were our first “repeatered” Jesus-Christ used in the gospels is actually the possible by the internet and social networks, cables, providing 60 circuits! These systems way that most the Middle-Eastern people tend that is to say, thanks to our cables! There is were considered “domestic” since Algeria got to speak. This was explained to me by my clearly a relation between these “revolutions” its independence in 1962. local Damascus agent, who was a non-Muslim and the emergence of the internet access in 49 Arabic. He was born in Anatolia, like St Paul (continued on next page) Advertisers Index ISSN 1948-3031 ENTELEC www.entelecshow.org 33

Issue Themes: Global Submarine Cabling Forum www.marcusevans.com 11 January: Global Outlook Nexans www.nexans.com 25 March: Finance & Legal OFS www.ofsoptics.com 4 May: Subsea Capacity July: Regional Systems WFN Strategies www.wfnstrategies.com 43 September: Offshore Energy

November: Subsea Technology who got converted on the “Chemin de Damas” This holds even more true for Libya and its (The road to Damascus). The Submarcom neighbors. Advertising enquiries: representative in Cairo was a highly cultivated old gentleman from the orthodox Copt So, let’s hope that the current “explosion” Sales Manager community. At each of my Cairo visits he will produce good solutions with more Kristian Nielsen brought me to the old Arento( PTT) building , development, and that submarine cables will Tel: +1 (703) 444-0845 kissing every secretary while saying, “Allah is play an ever bigger role in the future. Why not Email: [email protected] great.” I tell you, never go there believing that the construction of a long and thick festoon, a Maghreb–Mashreq highway, from Morocco to Sales Representative, things are simple!! Alexandria, Lebanon, Syria? And let’s dream Europe, AFRICA, Middle east Wilhelm Sicking More recently, these countries have grasped that Israel and Palestine could have their own Tel: + 49 (0) 201-779861 the opportunities to get connected to the landing point in such a system! Email: [email protected] numerous Europe-Asia cables and in some cases develop their own systems such as TE Inch’ Allah!! North (Telecom Egypt).

It is to be noted that these countries have so far very little traffic between themselves. I keep hearing about the “Arab world,” but relations Jean Devos between these various countries are very limited. The Morocco-Algeria border is almost closed due to the Sahraouian conflict. , and Copyright © 2011 WFN Strategies the commerce between Tunisia and Algeria is 50 indirect, with Marseilles as the middle point. by Kevin G. Summers

emember last issue when I promised year. Who would you recommend for the We are looking for your nominations. that we have some exciting things SubTel Forum Awards? What was the most Rlined up for 2011? I'm pleased to impressive innovation? Who advanced the Finalists will be profiled in the May edition announce that we are launching our First cause of our industry? Who wrote the best of SubTel Forum (Issue #57) and the winners Annual Submarine Telecoms Forum article? will be announced in our July edition (Issue Awards. These awards are meant to #58). Furthermore, winners will receive recognize some of the most important a physical award that they can display in contributors and contributions to our their office as a keepsake. industry over the past year. Please send your nominations to me directly The Innovation Award will go to the at [email protected]. Thanks! company or organization that has produced the best market innovation of the previous year. The Industry Achievement Award will go to an individual or company that has done the most for the industry. Finally, the Editor's Award will go to author of the best SubTel Forum article.

In order to do this right, we need input from our readers. Think about 2010, and all of the news that came down the pike last

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