 61 j a n Voice 2012 of the ISSN 1948-3031 Industry

Global Outlook Edition In This Issue: 2012: The Year of the Upgrade A Coherent Plan For Capacity Upgrades The Lit and the Pendulum: Will 2012 Bring a Paradigm Shift in the Fiber World? ISSN No. 1948-3031

PUBLISHER: Wayne Nielsen MANAGING EDITOR: Kevin G. Summers elcome to Issue 61, our Global for the virtue of your pride. Fight for the essence, Outlook edition. On the plane which is man, for his sovereign rational mind. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Stewart Ash, over to Pacific Fight with the radiant certainty and the absolute James Case, Jean Devos, John Hibbard, Brian W Conference this week, I finished reading Ayn rectitude of knowing that yours is the morality of Lavallée, Neil Tagare Rand’s epic masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged, life and yours is the battle for any achievement, Submarine Telecoms Forum magazine is with which I had toiled happily for some any value, any grandeur, any goodness, any joy published bimonthly by Submarine Telecoms time. I am glad I read this book at precisely that has ever existed on this earth.” Forum, Inc., and is an independent commercial this point in my career and not far earlier, as publication, serving as a freely accessible some grade-seeking student; I think having a In the general malaise we see certainly from forum for professionals in industries connected few gray hairs, double-digit years behind me, my window in the States, these are fighting, with submarine technologies and and none too few scars afforded me a much uplifting words, and whether you agree techniques. Submarine Telecoms Forum may deeper appreciation for what Rand was trying entirely or not, I think Atlas Shrugged is not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, to convey. thought-provoking, amazing, inspirational, in whole or in part, without the permission of motivational; after all, “Who is John Galt?” the publishers. Her philosophy, embodied in this massive tome, promotes that the proper moral purpose Should you be attending PTC 2012, please Liability: while every care is taken in come by our booth to say hello; and as always, preparation of this publication, the publishers of one’s life is the pursuit of one’s own cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of happiness (or rational self-interest) and that save me a seat at the Mai Tai Bar. the information herein, or any errors which the only social system consistent with this may occur in advertising or editorial content, morality is full respect for individual rights or any consequence arising from any errors embodied in laissez-faire capitalism. or omissions, and the editor reserves the right to edit any advertising or editorial material My Milton Friedman Monetarist upbringing submitted for publication. liked that.

Contributions are welcomed. Please forward She concluded her last public speech in 1981 to the Managing Editor at editor@subtelforum. com. quoting these words from her hero:

Submarine Telecoms Forum, Inc. “The world you desired can be won, it exists, 21495 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 201 it is real, it is possible, it’s yours. But to win it Sterling, 20166, USA requires total dedication and a total break with the subtelforum.com world of your past, with the doctrine that man is a sacrificial animal who exists for the pleasure of 2 Copyright © 2012 Submarine Telecoms Forum, Inc. others. Fight for the value of your person. Fight In This Issue...

Exordium 2 Through The Looking Glass: 22 Conferences 40 Wayne Nielsen The "Perceived" Future of the Submarine Cable Letter to a Friend 41 News Now 4 Jean Devos ICPC Call for Papers 25 2012: The Year of the Upgrade 7 Advertiser Index 43 Group Buying Of 27 A Coherent Plan 12 Is Now A Reality Coda 44 For Capacity Upgrades Neil Tagare Kevin G. Summers Brian Lavallée The Industry Needs 34 The Lit and the Pendulum: 18 Its Champion Will 2012 Bring a Paradigm John Hibbard Shift in the Fiber World? James Case Back Reflection 37 Stewart Ash

3 News Now  AP Telecom Appointed as Arctic Fibre’s Pre-  MMT awarded survey contract in the Sales Manager for International Bangladesh Mediterranean between Italy and Malta cableco to be listed in 2012  New Submarine Cable Between Iceland And  Chunghwa Telecom to participate in Asia- U.S. Attractive For Datacenters Pacific Gateway submarine network  NTT Com Signs Contract for Asia Pacific  Dhiraagu begins laying 1253 km of fibre optic Gateway Network cable  Pacnet Wins Best Pan-Asian Carrier Award  Du: Submarine cable cut in Suez repaired Reliance Globalcom sets up world’s first high- speed data link  Fintel to construct $40M cable to connect Suva with Nuku’alofa Maroc Telecom launches Loukkos fibre optic cable to Spain  Sea Fibre Networks commences long awaited  WFN Strategies to participate at PTC’12 lay of CeltixConnect a 15m subsea network investment for the most data driven island in  WFN Strategies To Support New Arctic Fibre Europe SeeByte & SMD Come Together to Offer Submarine Cable System Advanced Control for Work-Class ROVs  WIOCC is first to provide seamless low-latency  SubTel Forum to Moderate PTC’12 Submarine network from Africa to Europe Cable Panel

 TE SubCom and Gulf Bridge International announce completion of works of GBI cable system

 TE SubCom Completes First 40G Upgrade Of A Trans-Pacific Cable System

 The new EUROPA Cable System will provide resilient bridge between Europe and the Middle East

 Wasace submarine cable headed SA’s way 6 2012: The Year of the Upgrade

7 new year is finally upon us, . Arctic Fibre is a 15,000 km submarine Systems in Development: cable that will bridge the digital divide and the global economy is still ACE struggling to regain its feet after between Canada’s Nunavut and A North West Territories and the rest of ALASIA several years of recession. After a year in which the president of Egypt ordered southern Canada by providing a link Alexandros an shutdown, was from the Japan/ fiber ANTEL south to Clarenville, Newfoundland devastated by a major earthquake and Arctic Fibre where onward connections can be the United States announced the formal made to terrestrial North American Arctic Link end to the Iraq war, the submarine cable networks. The network will also Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) industry sailed forward as always. provide much-needed bandwidth Asia Submarine Express (ASE) At least eight submarine cables were to Canada’s Department of National Australia- (ASC) activated in 2011, and at least twenty Defense and the new Canadian High new systems were announced during Arctic Research Station (CHARS) that Axin the year. The real story in 2011, however, are situated at Cambridge Bay. Batam-Dumai-Melaka was system upgrades. At least twenty BLAST current systems have been upgraded or . Arctic Cable Company is an Dhiraagu-Maldives CS were announced as an upgrade plan in international consortium to finance, Emerald Express design and construct the Arctic Link, order to extend system life. EUROPA the submarine fiber optic cable system spanning the arctic regions from Asia Europe Persia Express Gateway (EPEG) Systems In Development to Europe with a regeneration site in GOKI located in Alaska. Interchange Cable Network (ICN) There are currently some 30 submarine Kinmen-Xiamen cable systems in development. . The WASACE cable will connect LION-2 Interestingly, there are presently two Africa, Europe, North America and planned competitive systems that, upon South America. This system is aiming Pacific Fibre completion, will connect Europe, North to deploy the first trans-Atlantic 100 Palapa Ring America and Japan via the Northwest Gbp/s submarine cable route. The Project Express Passage. These systems, Arctic Fibre and project is divided into four sections: SAEx WASACE North connecting Europe Arctic Link, each span a huge portion of SJC the globe and will provide low latency, to North America; WASACE South connecting South America to Africa; Suva-Nuku’alofa secure routes from Japan to the United WASACE America connecting South Tonga-Fiji Kingdom. Of the systems currently in America to North America; and WASACE development, several are worth taking a WASACE Africa connecting , (WACS) moment to consider: and . West Africa Regional Communications 8 Infrastructure Programme (WARCIP) In Service 2011: early-2000s are coming up for upgrades Brian Lavallée, Director of Submarine CeltixConnect now a decade later. Let’s also consider Networks Industry Marketing for Ciena Gulf Bridge International (GBICS) some of these systems: said: “Coherent 40G/100G optical transmission is allowing undersea cable Hawk . operators to quickly and cost-effectively LIME EASSy is a 10,000km submarine fibre- optic cable system deployed along breathe new life into their existing Matram-Kupang the east and south coast of Africa and 10G-based wet plant assets. A fourfold Pencan-8 is the highest capacity system serving to tenfold increase in channel capacities TE North sub-Saharan Africa, with a 4.72Tbps, raises the total capacity of deployed Zimbabwe-Mozambique 2 fibre-pair configuration. The system submarine cables to levels that far was upgraded in December 2011 by surpass their original maximum design Cable & . Some very interesting details come to capacities. This allows for improved light when we explore these statistics regionally. Fifteen planned systems . Southern Cross is approximately are set to land, all or in part, in the 28,900 km in length, with landings in System Upgrades 2011 & Beyond Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji Australasia region, nine are set to land AAG and the US mainland. The company in the European/Mediterranean region, announced a a 400G capacity upgrade APCN2 eight in the Americas and five in the with Ciena in October 2011. Caucasus African/Middle East region. CFX-1 TE SubCom CEO, David Coughlan, in a Columbus Networks Of the systems that were lit in 2011, recent press release, stated: “TE SubCom EAC-C2C three came online in the European/ has long prioritized upgrade initiatives EASSy Mediterranean region, three in the and helping our customers make the FNAL African/Middle East region and one most of their systems and investments. GlobeNet each in the Australasia and Americas Completing the first long-haul system GWEN regions. upgrade from 10G to 40G highlights our Kodiak-Kenai advanced capabilities and commitment PC-1 Systems in Upgrade to providing the highest density cable RJCN systems being built. Further, the project SAT-3 On the upgrade side of the story, some is an important step forward for the SEA-ME-WE 4 major systems are planning to accomplish industry, as it sets a new standard for Southern Cross or have completed upgrades. These upgrading existing submarine cable TAT-14 systems include AAG, EASSy, Southern systems and paves the way for moving Cross, SAT-3/WACS, and SEA-ME-WE toward 100G achievements.” TBN 4. It appears that many of the systems TW-1 9 installed during the peak time of the WACS economies of scale while negating of projects worldwide to increase the capacity of submarine cable systems of different the need to deploy new submarine generations. Today, Xtera has two platforms to upgrade different types of cable cable builds that are time-consuming, systems, from unrepeatered to repeatered, with channel rates up to 100G." expensive, and financially risky. Given the number of submarine cables already The Australasia region and the Americas are neck and neck in the upgrade department deployed around the world, rapid and with eight and seven systems, respectively. The African/Middle East region and the cost-effective capacity upgrades will be European/Mediterranean regions are tied with four system upgrades each. the way forward for the foreseeable future in most regions. Substantial capacity Given the number of current systems at mid-life and the increasing need for global increases will also spur protection capacity, it seems that 2012 might just be the year of the upgrade. upgrades involving intelligent control planes that enable improved network resiliency, lower overall operating costs, and broader service differentiation. The world’s increasing dependence on global connectivity mandates improved network protection of these critical submerged network links against all natural and man-made cable cuts to avoid wide-scale outages that can affect millions of people.”

Herve Fevrier, Xtera COO, stated: "Xtera pioneered the upgrade market, with first commercial projects by 2005, offering the possibility to the cable owners to pick the best in class SLTE technology independently of the original supplier for higher capacity and lower incremental cost. This breakthrough breathed new life in existing cable systems whose old technologies offer limited capacity. Relying on original technical approaches for the development of innovative submarine line terminal equipment, Coming Soon to a wall near you 10 Xtera has participated in a large number 11 A Coherent Plan For Capacity Upgrades

Brian12 Lavallée lobal demand for bandwidth international voice and data traffic. complete and cost hundreds of millions continues to increase unabated— Satellite communications play a of dollars. Gaccording to TeleGeography, comparatively minor role, making it is forecasted to grow at a compound submarine cables the critical links in As the global environment speeds rate of nearly 50 percent annually for worldwide communications. Most toward a more connected environment, the foreseeable future. Although the submarine network routes are in dire submarine cable operators are facing a increasing popularity of video-centric need of significant capacity upgrades to daunting paradox, which is looming ever streaming content is the primary driver, maintain pace with surging international larger and ever . Due to significant an increasing number of subscribers at bandwidth demands experienced intercontinental capacity growth and ever-multiplying per subscriber access worldwide. Since the submarine intensified global competition, undersea rates are also fueling this consistent optical cables deployed along these cable operators must significantly growth. Increases in continental intercontinental routes were deployed increase capacity for their customers bandwidth growth inevitably affect the many years ago, they are rapidly albeit with fewer dollars for both submarine networks interconnecting approaching their original maximum capital and operational expenditures. these continents, as accessed content can design capacities. This situation is To exacerbate this paradox even be located anywhere on planet Earth—a forcing global network service providers further, global intercontinental prices situation that will only be compounded to decide how to cost-effectively increase continue to fall annually. The submarine with the advent of cloud services the capacity of their networks. The optical networking industry addressed that centralize content at a few select logical choice is to upgrade existing these significant challenges with the geographic locations. Unfortunately, channel rates from 2.5 Gb/s and 10 Gb/s introduction of a new technology known this steady increase in bandwidth channels to 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s while as coherent optical networking, which demand is also associated with steady keeping their existing undersea wet directly and effectively addresses this global price erosion for intercontinental plants untouched. This allows submarine paradox. submarine capacity. The main concern cable operators to avoid having to facing submarine cable operators today, deploy costly and financially risky new Coherent Optical Networking and in the coming years, is how to undersea cables, which can take years to significantly increase the information- carrying capacity of their networks while Coherent optical processing technology reducing their overall operating costs to lays the foundation for increasing protect margins. transoceanic submarine cable channel rates from 10 Gb/s to 40 Gb/s today, and 100 Gb/s in the near future. This According to the International Cable technology also offers the ability Protection Committee, submarine to increase network intelligence by optical cables currently carry almost unlocking new network architectural all transoceanic Internet traffic and possibilities such as gridless and colorless 13 more than 95 percent of all combined networking for increased spectral researched as far back as the 1980s. The A key component to compensating in efficiency and improved network agility, promise of improved receiver sensitivity, the electrical (mathematical) domain is respectively. By integrating techniques combined with the inherent difficulty of the Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), for improved spectral efficiency and the coherent methods, meant coherent which must be extremely fast and highly increased noise tolerance, and by adding systems enjoyed a great deal of research accurate to properly transition a received an intelligent coherent receiver alongside attention. However, the invention of signal from the optical to electrical advanced Digital Signal Processing the optical amplifier provided a much domain. Real-time processing in the (DSP) algorithms, coherent technology cheaper and easier method to obtain this electrical domain allows for additional provides cost-effective ways to mitigate improved noise tolerance, so most of the complimentary technologies that further optical impairments, take advantage coherent research was abandoned. enhance coherent optical networking of existing undersea wet plants, and capabilities, such as the implementation significantly increase undersea cable Today, in addition to improved of soft Forward Error Correction (FEC). capacity. The advantages of coherent noise tolerance, coherent technology optical networking are significant and preoccupies research and commercial C-band real, as evidenced by numerous undersea development in optical communications Capacity cable operators having already adopted due to its inherent ability to cost- Pb/s this innovative optical transmission effectively address the requirements of Coherent + technology over both land and sea. Its distortion compensation, polarization DWDM adoption also justifies the significant de-, and carrier extraction. Tb/s time, money, and effort invested by the All of these capabilities are afforded by the DD + optical networking industry as a whole in most important characteristic of coherent DWDM this innovative new optical transmission transmission; namely, access to the optical technology. electrical field, which is enabled by DSP Gb/s Direct technology. Working in conjunction with Detection (DD) Coherent Optical coherent optical detection, DSP is the Technology Ecosystem mathematical engine whereby numerical processing is applied to recover received Coherent detection offers greatly signals from impairments that are Current commercial transmission improved noise tolerance, enabling physically well-understood, but, until products use hard-decision FEC where increased optical transmission capacity recently, electronically inaccessible. the receiver determines if a received bit and reach when compared to the Mathematically compensating for such is a one or zero based only on a decision traditional direct detection that has impairments as chromatic dispersion and threshold. Soft-decision FEC uses served the optical networking industry so Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) probabilities in its algorithms that allow well for decades. Although commercially is far more cost-effective than doing error correction decisions to be made available coherent optical technology so in the optical domain, which is how with additional information, resulting 14 is relatively new, it was already being traditional networks were compensated. in a significant increase in system reach due to a (theoretical) noise mitigation of carriers per channel. This ecosystem the near future, is expected to continue improvement of approximately 3dB. of complimentary optical transmission as the dominant method of intercepting The ADC and DSP present in a coherent technologies allows undersea cable worldwide bandwidth growth for the receiver means that the soft metrics are operators to cost-effectively upgrade foreseeable future. already available to implement soft their existing wet plants to aggregate FEC. Since optical transmission systems capacities that far exceed their original Tata Communications’ global network must provide network operators with design capacities. consists of over 200,000 kilometers Bit Error Rates (BER) better than 10-15, of terrestrial networks and 500,000 complicated mathematical algorithms kilometers of submarine networks are required since multi-bit metrics carrying 17 percent of the world’s for signals operating at 100 Gb/s, for Internet traffic. A key submarine cable example, implies greater than 100 billion in this important global network is information bits received every second their TGN-Atlantic subsea cable, which thus creating huge data flows and a interconnects the important financial large associated processing task. For hubs of and London. TGN- heat efficiency, this operation must be Transatlantic Capacity Upgrades Atlantic is a ring system with four fiber implemented within the same ASIC as pairs that are capable of carrying over 10 the DSP, which is enabled with continued Tb/s on each leg. Due to the incredible silicon integration. According to TeleGeography, the transatlantic route has the most lit growth expected to continue unabated capacity and is the most competitive across the , it was necessary The dramatic optical transmission submarine cable route in the world. to upgrade the approximately 13,000 km improvements enabled by coherent Although new transatlantic submarine TGN-Atlantic submarine cable from 10 optical detection are actually the cables are planned, upgrades to the Gb/s to 40 Gb/s to address increasing result of an ecosystem of leading- thirteen existing cables serving this region customer demands while lowering edge technologies working together in have accounted for all capacity increases cable operating costs. Coherent optical harmony. Advanced ADC technology since the introduction of the networking addressed the opposing cost-effectively maps the received system back in 2003, a testament to the network objectives of both increasing optical signal into the electrical economic benefits of upgrading existing capacity and lowering operating costs, domain such that the intelligence wet plants, whenever and wherever breathing new life into a submarine embedded in the DSP is fully leveraged. possible. TeleGeography expects the cable that was put into service more than CMOS advancements and continued demand for transatlantic capacity to ten years ago—way back in 2001. integration have driven significant increase nearly nine fold between 2010 advances in signal recovery, FEC and and 2017, meaning that upgrading Compared to incredibly expensive and sequence estimation, and enabled the transoceanic submarine cables from 10 time-consuming new undersea cable exploitation of the dimensions of symbol Gb/s to 40 Gb/s today, and 100 Gb/s in builds, capacity upgrades to existing 15 rate, bits per symbol, and the number wet plants are comparatively simple, rapid, and far less expensive. Upgrading well as reduced sparing requirements place in all regions around the planet, the capacity of existing transoceanic wet for global network operators. which is proof to the values of coherent plants involves the addition of coherent technology and shows its ability to 40 Gb/s channels inserted into available Coherent Capacity Upgrade Plans address the paradox of increasing optical spectrum. If the submarine capacity while reducing costs. network is already fully loaded with 10 As global bandwidth demand continues Gb/s channels, existing channels are to increase for the foreseeable future, the Brian Lavallée is the Director swapped for 40 Gb/s transponder card importance of the submarine network responsible for Submarine pairs for an immediate quadrupling of jugular veins of intercontinental Industry Marketing at Ciena. channel capacity. As coherent 100 Gb/s communications will only increase. Given technology capable of transoceanic the time, money, and effort involved reaches comes to market, immediate with deploying new submarine cables, tenfold channel capacities will become capacity upgrade technologies that allow available. A major economic benefit of for extending the lifespan of existing wet coherent optical technology is that it plant assets will remain the dominant is fully compatible with existing and choice for cable operators the world over. future terrestrial and submarine optical Transoceanic capacity upgrades from line systems that enable economies of legacy 10 Gb/s technology to coherent scale for optical networking vendors, as 40 Gb/s technology are already taking

16 17 The Lit and the Pendulum: Will 2012 Bring a Paradigm Shift in the Fiber World?

18James Case rom year to year we watch the is that at least 20 systems were upgraded for small and unique systems is as economic pendulum of fiber or announced to be upgraded for the strong as ever. These small systems are Factivity swing back and forth specific purpose of extending their utility generally critical for communications from region to region, always tracking and lifespans. plans in remote locations and in some with new development and population cases require unique solutions for their growth around the world. Last year, the As the markets trudge on through the individual requirements. For example, apex of the swing was in Africa, a region economic turmoil, one can’t help but the BLAST project in American Samoa that still shows potential for growth. notice a dwindling number of new is linking the islands of Aunu’u, Ta’u Economics are the primary driver “traditional” consortium fiber systems. and Ofu to the main island of Tu’tuila, for any new venture, be it opening a In the last year, the market added only requiring specialized installation and lemonade stand or installing a new fiber a handful of these traditional styled maintenance techniques to address system, the same principle applies: will systems, two of which are still riding geological, volcanic, tsunami and I achieve the greatest amount of profit the Africa wave. While the number of permitting restrictions. Logistics for with the least risk? With the continuing large systems is decreasing, the demand supplies, vessels, heavy equipment and uncertainty and turmoil in the world the like are a critical element to the success economy, system owners are looking to “bunker down” and minimize their exposure, such as a new system. This year we find ourselves strapped to a board, watching the pendulum arc back toward us, only this time instead of opportunity in a newly exposed regional market, the pendulum is showing an increase in systems upgrades; more and more owners are opting to upgrade their existing systems increasing their lifespans, rather than installing new systems.

The market is still healthy; there are roughly 30 submarine fiber systems currently in development, at least eight fiber systems were lit and there were at least 20 new systems announced last year. While those are positive figures, 19 another point to take into consideration and/or failure of the installation plan. • Emerging markets are expected to good old days” from many of my friends While not new to the submarine cable sustain solid economic growth rates. and colleagues in the industry, I find industry, these challenges are foreboding They will, however, be affected by the myself having a hard time agreeing with for the soon-to-be cable system operator. deterioration in key export markets, them, there are ambitious and unique It is up to the consultants and suppliers to financial market turbulence, and global systems; if there is anything true about ease the overall experience of installing investors’ flight to safety. economic troubles, it’s that they make and operating a cable system while us sleeker and smarter, streamlined for educating and training along the way. • Despite lowering its crude oil price excellence. As far as predicting how the forecast, IHS CERA still projects future will turn out the best we can do is One of the largest factors threatening relatively high prices in 2012 because of lay back and try to predict how far and the future of submarine telecoms is the OPEC’s diminished spare production deep the pendulum will swing this time, current global economic down turn, capacity and Asia’s continued demand hoping it won’t be the last. some have even said the outlook is grim. growth. By the end of 2011, significant economic James Case serves as the downturn has taken hold in the US and • Turmoil in financial markets has Director of Projects for WFN internationally. In response to recent spilled over to other commodity Strategies. He has managed or market turmoil, weak incoming data, markets, swiftly driving down prices supported telecom projects in and an unprecedented loss of confidence of key exchange-traded goods. IHS the Gulf of Mexico, Indonesia, in policy makers, IHS Global Insight Inc. Global Insight expects a relatively Russia, Caribbean, North Sea, West Africa, has downgraded its forecasts for the mild price correction--nothing like the Antarctica, Australia and the North Sea. United States, Western Europe, and the rout in late 2008. It is possible that the global economy, specifically: current worldwide recession will stall future investment in telecoms, and • IHS Global Insight has raised the thereby slow system development and probabilities of recessions in the United installation. States and Eurozone to about 40%. 2012 is going to be like the Wild West; • The Eurozone sovereign debt crisis is the old guard may move aside and give a ticking time bomb; financial markets rise to a new breed of system owners, are skeptical of European governments’ with new priorities and expectations. ability to contain debt problems within The days of large consortium cables are the region; yet, this situation is nothing all but over, smaller, more specialized like the 2008-09 global recession. systems are on the rise, upgrades are on track to become the norm in system development. I hear a lot about “the 20 21 Through The Looking Glass: The "Perceived" Future of the Submarine Cable

22 his year at PTC’12, Submarine brief presentation on their specific area Kent holds a bachelor’s degree from Telecoms Forum is pleased to of expertise, followed by an intense Stanford University and a law degree Tmoderate a submarine cable roundtable discussion and Q&A led by from the University of Chicago. breakout session called “Through the the moderator. Looking Glass: The Perceived Future of James Case the Submarine Cable Industry.” Panelists for this session include: Director, Project Management, In the midst of a devastating worldwide Kent Bressie WFN Strategies recession, submarine cable system Partner, owners are working hard to extend the Wiltshire & Grannis LLP James Case serves as the Director of lifespan of their systems. Meanwhile, Projects for WFN Strategies. He has new systems are being lit all over the managed or supported telecom projects globe. System suppliers and upgraders Kent Bressie is a partner with the in the Gulf of Mexico, Indonesia, Russia, are developing new technologies to law firm of Wiltshire & Grannis LLP Caribbean, North Sea, West Africa, expand capacity for the “backbone” in Washington, D.C. and chairs its Antarctica, Australia and the North Sea. of the internet, and new markets are international practice. Kent is an expert emerging with a seemingly insatiable on telecommunications regulation and He received a BS in Ocean Engineering need for connectivity. international trade and investment who from the Institute of Technology has worked throughout the Asia-Pacific and has strong project management The session will consist of several region. skills with technical areas of expertise speakers, each from a different corner of in relational and spatial database the submarine cable industry: a system Kent has extensive experience with the development, GIS programming, web owner, a legal expert, a consultant and whole range of legal and regulatory application development, network an upgrader. Each will each give a issues affecting undersea cables and security and IT design. international carriers, including: licensing and permitting; national He also has 10 years of at-sea Ocean security, export controls, and economic Engineering experience which includes sanctions; transaction and investment survey system sensor integration, reviews; market access; corporate and hydrographic survey, vessel mobilization commercial transactions; and the law and all aspects of data collection and of the sea. He has represented undersea product development for hydrographic cable operators, suppliers, investors, and and cable route surveys. capacity customers in connection with projects on six continents.

23 Mike Constable John Pennewell for dozens of international fiber optic Director, Business Director, networks since the 1990s including Development, International Network, Hibernia, the Australia-Japan Cable, Pacific Fibre AT&T EASSy, and the Seychelles-East Africa New Zealand System. During Mr. Pennewell’s career with AT&T he has worked in many aspects of Prior to co-founding Terabit in 2000, Mike Constable has over 18 years of the business from Bell Labs to National he was responsible for undersea cable experience in the submarine cable Account Sales. His most recent have research at Pioneer Consulting, where industry, having been involved in the been dedicated to international network he created the Worldwide Submarine development and implementation of development focused on submarine Fiber Optic Systems report. He was also cable systems throughout the globe in cables. a market analyst at Kessler Marketing strategic, commercial and programme Intelligence (KMI), where he authored management roles. He cut his teeth as Director of Submarine the study Beyond the Atlantic Cable Cable Development in the Asia Pacific Maintenance Agreement, as well as Prior to joining Pacific Fibre, Mike was region where he successfully completed a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Director of Business Development at Japan-US, China-US and APCN2 Department of State. Pacnet (Global) Ltd, Singapore, where consortia cables. During his years with he expanded their submarine cable AT&T’s Concert subsidiary he developed Moderator: infrastructure including the several private cable concepts and helped Kevin G. Summers project. Mike also held a key role in bring the Australia Japan Cable to life. Editor, developing New York based, Global Submarine Telecoms Forum Crossing's multi-billion dollar global infrastructure programme. While with Since rejoining the parent company he Alcatel Submarine Networks, Mike has expanded his scope to include both Kevin G. Summers is the Editor of managed the building of numerous terrestrial and marine aspects of AT&T Submarine Telecoms Forum. Readers submarine cable systems throughout the global transport network. will be familiar with his Coda, the final world. article in each edition of SubTel Forum Michael Ruddy magazine. He was also instrumental in Mike earned his undergraduate degree Managing Director, many of the design and content changes at the University of Otago, New Zealand, International Research, to SubTel Forum since 2009. and his MBA at Henley Management Terabit Consulting College, United Kingdom. He is a professional author of fiction and Michael Ruddy is the author of Terabit’s part-time farmer along with his wife, 1,500-page Undersea Cable Report Rachel. They live in beautiful Amissville, and has completed feasibility studies Virginia. 24

CallCall for for Papers Papers

FROM:The next Mr. Plenary Graham of the International Marle, Cable ICPC The Secretariat ICPC therefore seeks presentations PresentationsTEL: +44 should 1590 be 25681 minutes 673 long Protection Committee (ICPC) will be held from interested parties that address the includingFAX: time+44 for870 questions 432 7761 and, to in Lisbon, Portugal during the period 17- importance and challenges of protecting ensure clarity when presented, should be 15 November19 April 2012 2011 inclusive. submarine cables. Topics could include, E -mail:formatted [email protected] in accordance with the guidance but are not limited to: thatWeb will- site:be provided. www.iscpc.org The UN General Assembly Omnibus Resolution on Oceans & Law of the Sea of • Government & Industry working Prospective presenters are respectfully The next7 December Plenary 2010 of includedthe International the following Cabletogether Protection Committee (ICPC)advised will be that held papers in Lisbon, that are overtlyPortugal statement: marketing a product or service will not be during the period 17-19 April 2012 inclusive.• Marine spatial planning and sharing accepted, however two marketing slides Recognizing that fibre optic submarine the seabed can be included at the beginning or end of The UNcables General transmit Assembly most of the world’sOmnibus data Resolution on Oceans & Law of thethe Sea presentation. of 7 December 2010 and communications and are hence vitally • Submarine power cables: the includedimportant the following to the global statement economy and: the challenges of sea to shore NB: Commercial exhibits may be displayed national security of all States… Calls upon adjacent to the ICPC meeting room by special States to take measures to protect fibre optic arrangement. Please contact the Secretary for Recognizing that fibre optic submarine• Legal cables & transmit regulatory most challenges of the & world’s data and communications submarine cables … further details. and are hence vitally important to the globalsolutions economy and the national security of all States…………. In recognition of this significant Abstracts must be submitted via email Calls upon States to take measures to• protectSocial, strategic fibre and optic economic submarine reliance cables ……………………. development, and the strategic importance to [email protected] no later than 31 on submarine cables of submarine power cables, the theme of January 2012. In recognitionthis Plenary of meeting this willsignificant be: development, and the strategic importance of submarine power cables, • Emerging technologies, concepts & the theme of this Plenary meeting will be: The ICPC will evaluate all submissions best practices for cable protection A sea change: Securing submarine cables based on content and quality. 25 A seain change: the modern world Securing submarine cables in the modern world The ICPC therefore seeks presentations from interested parties that address the importance and challenges of protecting submarine cables. Topics could include, but are not limited to:

 Government & Industry working together

 Marine spatial planning and sharing the seabed

 Submarine power cables: the challenges of sea to shore

 Legal & regulatory challenges & solutions

 Social, strategic and economic reliance on submarine cables

 Emerging technologies, concepts & best practices for cable protection Presentations should be 25 minutes long including time for questions and, to ensure clarity when presented, should be formatted in accordance with the guidance that will be provided.

Prospective presenters are respectfully advised that papers that are overtly marketing a product or service will not be accepted, however two marketing slides can be included at the beginning or end of the presentation.

NB: Commercial exhibits may be displayed adjacent to the ICPC meeting room by special arrangement. Please contact the Secretary for further details.

Abstracts must be submitted via email to [email protected] no later than 31 January 2012.

The ICPC will evaluate all submissions based on content and quality.

Group Buying Of Bandwidth Is Now A Reality

N27eil Tagare irst there was Groupon where you It makes sense to lease out as much usage. It is estimated that over 70% of could buy a pizza for 50% off. That bandwidth as possible even at a steep the fiber optic capacity in the world is not Fsparked up a race to create hundreds discount, rather than keep it idle. That’s utilized. That is the reason the industry of sites around the world offering 50% where BuySellBandwidth.com comes in. goes through mega cycles of boom and discounts in the consumer services area. For the first time, carriers have the ability bust every 7 years or so. Now it is the turn of the B2B market to to selectively lease or sell bandwidth benefit from deals. The latest deals site they have in excess. This can be done Let us take a random example of a is www.BuySellBandwidth.com, where either through their own brand name or enterprise customers, ISPs and carriers anonymously. can get amazing deals on bandwidth anywhere in the world. Since the advent of the fiber optic industry, the biggest problem facing the BuySellBandwidth.com, sporting a mix carriers is that they always have excess of Priceline and Groupon, is a website capacity on some routes and not enough that makes it easy for customers to capacity on others. Attempts to barter provide their detailed requirements and this capacity have resulted in many also mention the price point at which top telecom executives going to jail for they would be a willing customer. That non-compliance of either the tax laws or makes it easy for carriers to know who is disclosure laws in disparate jurisdictions. in the market to buy bandwidth and at The Global Crossing disaster in the late what price-point they are willing to buy. 1990s resulted in senate hearings in the Typically, less than 10% of carriers' leads US followed by hunting down of telecom get converted into signed contracts. executives all over the world. BuySellBandwidth.com increases the conversion rates significantly. Other attempts to smooth the capacity curve (like Project Oxygen) failed due to Bandwidth is a perishable commodity the sheer size of the problem they were which, if unused, ends up costing a lot of trying to address. Telecommunications money to the carriers in terms of O&M capacity is probably the most inefficient costs, interest expenses and fixed costs. of all industries in terms of optimal 28 country like Bangladesh. In order to connect to the Internet, it needs to build a cable to Singapore. They would own multiple terabits of capacity on this cable and it would cost them, say, $250 million. Beyond that, they would have to buy capacity on another cable from Singapore to Japan costing another $50 million if they want the best prices as an initial party in, say, SJC. Beyond Japan, they would need to buy additional capacity from Japan to USA. Let’s say they bought $20 million worth of capacity. In all of these disparate links, they would have uneven amounts of capacity. The only capacity they could use is the Least Common Denominator of all the three links, which is the Trans-Pacific capacity. The rest of the capacity needs to be disposed off asap. The sooner they dispose it off, the better price they will get, not to mention sitting on the O&M expenses and so on. BuySellBandwidth. landing countries. Which means that having 70% or more excess capacity that com provides this platform where any even if Bangladesh was “invited” to be they would have to sit on. carrier can now dispose off unwanted part of Sea-Me-We-5, they would have bandwidth to customers around the to pay (and own) the entire capacity The submarine cable industry has gone world. from Bangladesh to the branch costing through major changes in the last few of approximately $50 million. On top years, with carriers being forced to of this, they would have to buy in to the Bangladesh got lucky in the case of buy on a Distance Times Bandwidth main cable, perhaps another $50 million. Sea-Me-We-4 where all the landing basis on a multi-country destination This is not the end. Then they would point countries were allowed to invest cable. This means that on certain cables, also have to buy a Trans-Pacific route equally no matter whether a country a third country can sell bandwidth or a Trans-Atlantic route (including the was a full-landing or a branch-landing between other two countries from their passage from France). So ultimately country. Rumors are in the case of Sea- bandwidth pool which if unused, is they would again end up in a similar Me-We-5, the full-landing countries are losing money every day sitting on the situation as described above and end up shelf. These third-countries (10 of them 29 not willing to “subsidize” the branch- opposite effect of flooding the market with unlimited capacity on a certain route. Even if there were unwritten rules about not flooding the market for a certain time, you only need one carrier to wander off the reservation and the entire price structure crumbles. The problem is that those deals are usually done in private settings where the pricing may not be optimal for either party. In such a distressed-sale situation, only the top carriers with deep pockets are sitting at the table.

This is where BuySellBandwidth.com comes in to make the deals available to all the players in the world who may be interested. Carriers can offer deals that are time-sensitive and very lucrative which will create a time-bound marketplace to get rid of the excess capacity on any given route. Also, the carriers can define the minimum number of customers that on a 12-country cable in the case of I-Me- In addition, new players like Google need to buy in order to get the deal. We) have every motivation to use up their have come up with their own business allocated bandwidth for the entire term deals that essentially force the market to Bandwidth is a perfect commodity for whether by selling IRUs or on a lease flood bandwidth on certain routes. The group buying since all the deals are basis. These rates are only available to business plan in at least one of the cables based on quantity. As you buy more the insiders or people with scale power Google is involved with gives complete bandwidth, the price per unit declines to buy in bulk. BuySellBandwidth. autonomy to each of the owners of the significantly. If all the small carriers com is making the market more liquid fiber pair (while the cable itself is built pooled their resources, they will get a with greater transparency so that every in a consortium model). While this does significant price advantage compared carrier, large or small has access to the not allow the consortium itself to hoard to buying individually. The price same deals. capacity with a view to control pricing differential between a 10Mbps link and as in other pure consortium cables a 10Gbps link is at least an order of 30 like Sea-Me-We-4, it creates the exact magnitude if not more. Carriers have to change their business their assets. They had a bandwidth sale countries like India by an order of magnitude models to take advantage of group that lasted only the last two weeks of that facilitated the creation of new industries buying sites like BuySellBandwidth. December 2011 when they were selling like offshore call centers. Tagare went on com. Instead of the traditional way of 1Gbps of bandwidth for $1 per Mbps per to found a second submarine fiber optics selling 10Gbps circuits individually, month. This was an incredible deal for company called Project Oxygen Ltd. in they should be open to multiple players customers who moved quickly to grab 1997 where he was the chairman and CEO. pooling their resources to get the price the deal. For Cogent, it could be any Its launch was attended by 300 telecom point. It is especially a no-brainer if number of reasons they offered the year- service providers from 200 countries. It was the bandwidth is being sourced from a end deal. But customers don’t care. It selected as one of the 12 "Cool Companies" data center or the point-to-point link is is these kinds of deals where customers by "Fortune Magazine"[1][2] and is widely between two carrier-neutral data centers. will save tens of thousands of dollars believed to be one of the key contributors This will open up the pool of potential per month and in the case of IRU sales, towards significant decrease in the cost of buyers to hundreds of carriers +and a millions of dollars in CAPEX. The game global bandwidth. new generation of bandwidth brokers is on. as opposed to the single-digit number Tagare was selected by Wired magazine as willing to buy at those levels. The prices Sunil "Neil" Tagare is an one of the "Wired 25"[3] in 1999 (25 people will then stabilize as a real market is entrepreneur. He developed trying to achieve the impossible and change the formed with multiple carriers willing to the concept of the Fiber- world) and was a finalist as the Entrepreneur bid on the excess capacity. Optic Link Around the Globe of the Year at the World Communications (FLAG) project in 1989 when Awards event in Geneva. He was selected as Another problem facing the industry he was 27 years old. FLAG a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World is the missing Buyer of Last Resort. was the first privately financed submarine Economic Forum and is a Charter Member Without such an entity, it is impossible fiber optic cable to link several continents of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) New York. to create a liquid and transparent around the world. The cost of construction Tagare has made dozens of keynote speeches marketplace trusted by all the players. of the first phase was $1.5 billion. As the around the world on his lifelong passions: the BuySellBandwidth.com can potentially executive vice president of Marketing advantages of lowering prices of bandwidth be the Buyer of Last Resort using its and Business Development at NYNEX and creation of a level playing field for the group buying platform. A Buyer of Last (now ), Tagare was responsible for common man around the world. Resort is a market maker and should breaking through regulatory barriers in some be willing to price any bandwidth that of the most difficult countries in the world comes in the marketplace. Only when such as Spain, Italy, Egypt, India, Saudi this starts happening, a true global Arabia, China, , Korea and Japan. bandwidth market will emerge. FLAG was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest telephone cable We have been working with Cogent in the world and has been instrumental in 31 Communications in the US to showcase lowering the cost of international calls to “Other 3 Billion” people currently not well served by telecoms). However while these orbiting satellites will be heavily loaded with traffic over Africa, they will be effectively empty over the Pacific, so affording the scope to offer transponders on a shared basis to the cable owning carriers in the Pacific to be used as required for restoration. The available capacity will generally meet the needs of the region and enable a continuity of service while a cable interruption is repaired. This is an exciting development for the Pacific in particular and why PTC is pleased to support such an initiative t’s January again and that means satellites. Hey you may ask well why and while being thoroughly delighted to it is time for the annual Pacific suggest that since this STF magazine, have O3B as a major sponsor of the ITelecommunications Council (PTC) such is out of place. Normally yes, but January conference. I am sure that many conference in Hawaii. Many of you from there is reason for an exception. Satellite of you in the sub cable space will want to the industry will make the pilgrimage to restoration of submarine cables is about hear more about this new development. the most significant regional event to take to make a return. It has been decades advantage of the congregation of people since we had the capacity available to Once again, I want to thank Kevin, from the various facets of international meaningfully restore cable systems. Wayne and their team for STF’s telecommunications. Not since fibre optics replaced coax ongoing cooperation with PTC and the has restoration made networking or opportunity for us to mutually share in Submarine cables will again be one of economic sense. For big cable systems, the development of the industry. Jointly the principal topics covered. There will they have back-up or there are enough we look forward to seeing many of you be workshops and featured sessions parallel paths for mesh networking. in Hawaii. across a range of topics. This year OSI But for the smaller, often island nations with their single cable, they don’t have is organising the “can’t-miss” Sunday John Hibbard that luxury. Emerging satellite provider, workshop which should again see the President and Chairman O3B has seen an opportunity. O3B is ballroom packed. I expect to see many of the Board of Governors manufacturing now and will launch in SubTel Forum readers present. Pacific Telecommunications Council 2013 a constellation of low earth orbit So much for submarine cables for the satellites to service those developing countries around the equator (the 32 moment, I want now to talk about his Spring, SubTel Forum will release its second annual Submarine Cable Almanac. This Submarine Cable Cable Submarine 21495 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 201 | Sterling, VA 20166, USA perfect bound book serves as complement to our Submarine Cable Map and features each major international system on its own page, along with a system map, landing points, system submarine cable capacity,T length, RFS year and other valuable data. The Almanac also includes full-color adverts from some of the most important players in the industry. The Almanac is shipped, free of charge, to our subscriber list, including senior government and international organization officials, telecom company executives and team, support and supply company management, and technical, sales and Compliments of aLManaC purchasing staff, field and shipboard personnel, academicians, consultants, financiers, and legal 2012 specialists. Adverts should be provided in Press Quality PDF format and should include crop marks. almanac - - almanac Advertising Inquiries: Sicking, Wilhelm Nielsen, Kristian Sales Representative, Sales Manager Europe, Middle East & Africa 2011 edition 2011 [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +1 (703) 444-0845 Tel: + 49 (0) 201-779861

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Almanac ads due: 25 March 2012 The Industry Needs Its Champion

34 John Hibbard s the telecoms industry will again just the removal of roadblocks, but rather Convention on the Law of the Sea. It has done This article gather at PTC in Hawaii, the question create an expressway which will accelerate the much with the fishing industry to encourage ran one again arises as to the means of getting processes within our industry. harmony between competing forces. year ago in A a credible voice for the submarine cable Historically only submarine cable owners Issue #55. industry. The industry needs a champion could be members and hence much of the I reread it who will be listened to by those external banter at their meetings involved preaching as I was parties who shape our industry through to the converted. The message was not getting assembling either pro-active action, reactivity or passivity. out. At their most recent meeting, the decision this issue Submarine cables are effectively the pinnacle was taken to widen their membership to allow and found of optical fibre technology yet they are not SubOptic is arguably our best known industry governments to have representation with the it to be understood nor appreciated even though they body. It holds the premier industry event aim of education, hopefully leading to better strikingly are a necessary (but not sufficient) requirement every 3 years when the top thinkers and the understanding and in due course supportive for the penetration of the internet and the leading content combine for our engagement. legislation. Very few countries have legislation relevant. economic benefits that it can bring. Comprised primarily of the vendors and to simplify the permitting for the provision the cable owners, SubOptic has a limited of submarine cable while at the same time -Kevin The World Bank findings, which have been role between events. In the last triennium, creating legally enforceable protection of a replicated by Booz and Company (and SubOptic took the initiative to develop a nation’s sub-sea umbilical cord(s). The ICPC reinforced by McKinsey) indicate that every supply contract template as a way to increase move is clearly a step in the right direction 10% of penetration of broadband increases its value to the sub cable industry. Is this the but is it enough. The current ICPC charter is a country’s GDP by around 1.3%. This is first step to raising its profile so as to be the pitched towards cable protection and so can it substantial economic growth which will not industry spokesman? Is the current structure be focussed on the simplification of permitting occur without high bandwidth, low latency of modest funding from vendors sufficient to and provisioning. Should the charter of ICPC international connectivity. For many countries, enable such a transition, or is a more dramatic be extended to cover these aspects? Its funding that means submarine cables. recasting of its organizational arrangements from members has allowed active lobbying in necessary for it to have the requisite clout? the past so it may have the structure to expand So why do so many countries seem to go and take on a broader role. out of their way to frustrate the provision, protection, operation and maintenance of submarine cables. At the SubOptic conference back in May, Kent Bressie provided an illuminating and persuasive argument that the lack of consideration for cables was a PTC is another body which has the possibility direct consequence of a series of myths held of being the industry spokesperson. It has the by our national and political leaders. Unless breadth of membership and a high degree such myths are de-bunked, our industry will of recognition, albeit mainly in Asia-Pacific continue to be frustrated, and economies and mainly for its annual conference. It has damaged, unknowingly by those aiming to the capacity to extend its role but while it stimulate economic growth. The International Cable Protection Committee has always actively entertained the sub cable So how should we go about educating the is another potential champion for our industry. industry, its focus is much broader, and so its politicians and the public of the importance The ICPC has been involved in lobbying in clout in presenting a case for our industry may 35 of submarine cables and so encourage not the past such as with the United Nations be lessened. But with its breadth and involvement with the broader aspects of will ever encounter. We try to keep our cable To put it context for the listeners I portrayed telecommunications, it could well take a role station unobtrusive to avoid attention. The the picture of flying in a jumbo, throwing out in supporting the industry champion should media, through the news gathering process a rope to hook a garden hose – and doing it one emerge. is primarily focused on satellite. How often blind-folded. It was quite overwhelming the do we hear that news reader crosses via cable discussion and commentary that subsequently to an on-the-scene reporter? Never!! Yet such occurred highlighting that we have a story to media material only represents a miniscule tell. amount of what is downloaded daily on submarine cable from You Tube. So how do we tell this story of our business? Whether it is one of technology and one It is the squeaky wheel which gets the most of economic importance, we need to get oil. So assuming that we have a mouthpiece, the message out there. But we can only do how might we squeak loudly to get the desired that with an industry champion. We need attention. Maybe we could do so through at least one body with an array of credible extolling our technology. The gee-whiz factor spokespersons to do this to cover the various is an important ingredient in why space travel facets of our business. We need a media ITU represents another potential spokesman, or medical engineering get great recognition. campaign to ensure every opportunity is particularly as it is an arm of the United Nations People use the term “rocket scientists” as a taken to maximize our exposure. Yes raising and central body for telecommunications. synonym for engineering wizard. I doubt the profile of our industry could heighten the However historically it has been hesitant that many around the globe appreciate that risks to our infrastructure but hiding our light at championing causes, and the operating submarine fibre optics is one of the highest under a bushel will see more and more adverse logistics has made the generation of tech pieces of science and engineering. By now regulations introduced which will hamper recommendations quite tortuous. everyone has heard of fibre optics. But how our efficiency and raise the cost of cables. The many comprehend the awesome nature of the industry needs a champion, at least one but The industry needs its spokesperson to get technology which will transport billions of several would be even better. out its message. It needs to educate those internet accesses across thousands of miles of that matter on the merits of sub cables and to ocean in a pipe the size of a garden hose which John Hibbard is a leading correct the myths that handicap the efficient should remain faultless for 25 years. This is a consultant in international operation of our business and the growth in story of supreme engineering which needs to telecommunications, particularly the wealth of nations. be told. in the development of So what are those myths that pervade the minds submarine cable projects. He of public, government officials and politicians. I am not even sure that we ourselves don’t take has over 40 years experience Clearly the greatest one is the belief that most such an achievement for granted. This message in the telecommunications industry, mostly in international communications are carried on came home to me many years ago when I was international activities and submarine cables. Prior satellite. Even those in the communications hauled onto radio to explain a cable break. I to becoming a consultant, John was Managing areas of government believe that, when in fact recalled the time when the original SEACOM Director Global Wholesale at Telstra Australia, 98% of non-TV intercontinental transmissions cable failed crossing the Marianas trench at where he managed Telstra’s international business, travel via submarine cables. Why is it so? 26,000 feet (8000+ metres).. We take as a matter and was founding Chairman of the Australia One of our biggest handicaps is that we are of course that we can fish up the cable, repair Japan Cable. He is now President of the Pacific out of sight. Hidden away on the sea-bed, it and return it to the sea. But the recovery and Telecommunications Council and Chairman of its 36 it is not something that the average person repair of cable is truly a major engineering feat. Board of Governors. Back Reflection by Stewart Ash ne hundred years ago, on 10th be said, written, broadcast and televised At the time, the Mackay Bennett was April 1912, the S.S. Titanic set describing various aspects of the story. on station, alongside in Halifax, Nova Oout from Southampton on its Therefore, I thought we would take the Scotia. The cable in her tanks was maiden voyage to New York. Owned by opportunity, in the first issue of 2012, to quickly discharged to shore and replaced the White Star Line, the Titanic was the cover the role that the submarine cable with ice. A number of embalmers, largest passenger ship in the world. She industry had to play in the aftermath of undertakers and a large quantity of let port that morning with 2,223 people the disaster. coffins were embarked. All of the ship’s on board. As is well known, at 23:40 crew volunteered for the harrowing (local) on 14th April, she hit an iceberg Even as the S.S. Carpathia was steaming task, and were paid double. The Mackay and sank, going down at 02:20 (local) on back to New York with survivors from Bennett set under the command of the morning of 15th April. 1,517 people the Titanic, the White Star line was in the Captain Frederick Harold Larnder, on lost their lives that day, and it remains process of chartering the 1,700 ton, C.S. Wednesday 17th April. Time was of the one of the worst marine disasters in Mackay Bennett from the Commercial essence for a number of reasons; firstly, peacetime. The high casualty rate was Cable Company to recover bodies from if the floating bodies reached the Gulf due, in large part, to the fact that the ship the Atlantic. The charter rate agreed was Stream they would be distributed far and only carried lifeboats for 1,178 people. US$550/day. wide; secondly the probability that the This was entirely consistent with the bodies would be disfigured by wild life, regulations that were in force at the time. The Mackay Bennett was built by John making identification impossible, had to A high proportion of the victims were Elder and Co. in Govan, Glasgow, in be taken into consideration; and finally, men, due to the “women and children 1884. She was named after the two the need of loved ones and families for first” protocol that was enforced by the principle directors of the Commercial closure was recognised. ship’s crew while abandoning ship. Cable Company; John W Mackay (1831- 1902) and James Gordon Bennett Jr. As this year is the centenary of this tragic (1841-1918), who was also proprietor of 37 event, much in the months to come will the New York Herald. Cable ship abandoned the search and returned to Mackay Halifax. Bennett As the bodies were taken aboard the Mackay Bennett, they were given a label with a number, and any possessions discovered on the body were placed in a small bag with the same number. Despite the best efforts of the authorities in Halifax and the officials of the White Star Line, only 56 of the 190 bodies returned to Halifax by the Mackay Bennett were positively identified.

Arrangements were made for the bodies that could not be identified, or where relatives could not afford, or did not want to repatriate them, to be buried The Mackay Bennett reached the disaster remainder were embalmed and placed in three of Halifax’s cemeteries: the site on the evening of Saturday 20th in coffins. Baron de Hirsch, the Fairview Lawn April. It quickly became apparent that and the Mount Olivet. About half of the 150 people buried in Halifax were there were too many floating bodies for On 23rd April, the Mackay Bennett never identified, so the top line of their the Mackay Bennett to cope with, and rendezvoused with the Sardinian headstones were left blank, with only a second vessel, the Anglo American in order to take on more canvas for the body number engraved for reference Telegraph Company’s CS Minia, was wrapping bodies. By Tuesday 26th April, and “Died April 15, 1912.” quickly chartered by the White Star Line. the Mackay Bennett had recovered 306 bodies, of which 116 were buried at The crew began recovery operations the sea. Overwhelmed by the task they had The crew of the Mackay Bennett recovered next morning and, despite heavy swell, undertaken, they headed back to Halifax the body of a small, fair haired boy. There managed to recover 51 bodies. Of these with 190 bodies on board, roughly twice were no unique possessions on the body, 26 were considered so badly disfigured as as many as the coffins they had taken. so he remained unidentified. When to make identification impossible. These people read about this, he became a symbol of the tragedy and the authorities were wrapped in canvas, weighed down By this time, the Mania had arrived at the in Halifax were overwhelmed with offers with iron bars and committed to the deep disaster site and continued to search. She in a burial ceremony that evening. The to sponsor the toddler’s funeral and 38 recovered a further 17 bodies before she pay for a headstone. The difficult task had five other children, Lillian 16, of selecting a sponsor was made easier Charles 14, William 11, Jessie 10 and when Captain Larnder and the crew of Harold 9. Apart from Sidney, none the Mackay Bennett offer to sponsor the of the family's remains have been funeral. The boy’s epitaph reads: identified, and it is probable that they are among the 1,188 bodies “Erected to the Memory of a of the an that were never recovered.. Unknown Child Whose Remains were Recovered after the Disaster of the Captain Larnder was killed in Titanic, April 15, 1912.” action during the First World War, but the Mackay Bennett continued In November 2002, the American PBS in service as a cable ship until 1922. television series Secrets of the Dead She was then retired to Plymouth initially identified the body as Eino Sound where she was used as a Viljami Panula, a 13-month old Finnish cable storage hulk. During WWII, baby, the identification being based on she was sunk at her moorings but dental records. However, Canadian later re-floated and refitted. researchers discovered through a test on the child’s HVS1, a type of mitochondrial In September 1965 she was towed DNA molecule, that this did not match away to Ghent and broken up. the Panula family. DNA extracted from the exhumed remains and DNA provided by a surviving maternal relative helped positively match the remains and the re-identification was announced on 30 July 2007. The boy was Sidney Leslie Goodwin (1910 -1912) a 19 month old English boy, the youngest son of Frederick Joseph Goodwin and Augusta née Tyler. The Goodwins were travelling to the USA to join Fredrick's brother Thomas. They had booked third class passage on a small steamer out of Southampton, but due to the coal strike the voyage was cancelled and they were 39 transferred to the Titanic. Frederick Pacific Telecommunications Council 15-18 January 2012 Honolulu, Hawaii Conferences Website

Global Submarine Cable Forum 26-28 March 2012 London, UK Website

ICPC Planery Meeting 17-19 April 2012 Lisbon, Portugal Website

Submarine Networks World Africa 2012 21-24 May 2012 Johannesburg, South Africa Website

Submarine Networks World 2012 5-7 September 2012 Singapore Website

SubOptic 2013 22-25 April 2013 Paris, France Website

40 for the spirit of competition instead of Letter to a bloody war, and also my various shouts of protest such as "TAT-14 never again," or the inefficient and unfair "Bafo" Friend process. Who will remember all these in the coming times? Who remember Buchanan‘s message to Queen Victoria?

“It is a triumph…far more useful to mankind than was ever won… proves to be a bond of peace and friendship…and an instrument destined by Divine Providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty, and law throughout the world. In this view, will not all nations of Christendom spontaneously unite in the declaration Jean Devos that it shall be forever neutral, and that its communications shall be held sacred in passing to their place of destination, My dear friend, telegraph line was exhausted by the one even in the midst of hostilities.” hour and seven minutes effort to transmit I have been writing you letters several a 100 words message! The "cable has given Such language is clearly outdated, times a year for more than 10 years its final death rattle and taken its last dying but I like the vision, the spirit, and the now, and this may be my last in SubTel breath." (Stefan Zweig in The First Word To capability to finger-point the deep Forum. My last "message in a bottle," my Cross The Ocean.) meaning of such a project for the whole last "sermon on the mount,” my last "talk society. At that time, science, talent, to a brick wall." Exactly so, I am giving here my final and energy were perceived positively. death rattle! A new cable was perceived as a "bond of peace and friendship," a means for a It could be my "last word," just like the positive development. One was placing first Transatlantic cable, which became The appeals I launched so often for more confidence in civilization and religion; definitively silent after having just individual responsibility from our top one had faith in the progress of justice transmitted the messages exchanged managers--more personal involvement, and liberty. One wanted these cables to between Queen Victoria and U.S. my calls for a certain degree of self be useful to everyone, to be untouchable, President Buchanan in 1858. That regulation from our community, my calls 41 a "sacred object." The only message one can hear in our there, but the overall result is not a piece current press-releases and inaugural of art inspired by an idea and designed Dear Kevin and SubTel Forum team, speeches is "more capacity!" It's like sex by an artist or an architect. The global without love! The cultural dimension of network is far from being perfect, far Congratulations on your anniversary our work, the sense of pride, of fulfilling from arousing the admiration of all. and achievements. I am really upset a mission, these feelings are gone. The reason is that this network does not to have missed the quote deadline. respond to a plan and does not translate Wishing you all more and more I need to recognize that we have learned a vision. When do we start the cathedral? success. a few lessons since 1858. Science and

technology are seen as sources of Best regards, potential risks more than sources of progress. It is now normal to show Ola Khaled skepticism, and one does not believe Telecom Egypt much in a better world. Our submarine cable industry refuses to put forward its major role in the globalization process, in the progress of emerging countries, in the possibility given to almost everyone to access the knowledge, in the way to govern a country, in everyone’s life.

Utopia? Sure it is. As it was sheer Dear Kevin utopianism to conceive, 150 years ago, that human beings could communicate I apologize for missing your deadline through seas and oceans. but would still simply like to state that I find SubTel Forum a fantastic Our community is wrong. We are tool which helps to keep me well contributing significantly to the informed on industry happenings emergence of a new and better world, but and going-on. I find it most we behave as if we were just an ordinary informative and helpful. activity. Collecting and accumulating stones is a real task, but designing and Cheers, building a cathedral is another story. We are building and accumulating a lot Salvatore Vincenti of cables, not enough here, too many Tata Communications 42 Advertisers Index ISSN 1948-3031 Ciena www.ciena.com 11

Issue Themes: Huawei Marine Networks www.huaweimarine.com 17 January: Global Outlook Nexans www.nexans.com 26 March: Finance & Legal OFS www.ofsoptics.com 4 May: Subsea Capacity July: Regional Systems SubOptic www.suboptic.org 6 September: Offshore Energy WFN Strategies www.wfnstrategies.com 21 November: Subsea Technology

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Copyright © 2012 Submarine Telecoms Forum, Inc. 43 by Kevin G. Summers

volunteered at Harpers Ferry National relic from a time when machines were parking lot. I love my Mac, but it's not Park for several years leading up to built to be both functional and aesthetic. built to withstand years and years of use. Ithe 150th anniversary of John Brown's After 150 years, this machine is still both. It's a disposable tool. Hell, by 2014, most 1859 raid. I spent most of that time in people will probably be using iPads the John Brown museum, explaining As I'm flying across the United States instead of laptops! the story of the infamous abolitionist to today, finalizing this issue of SubTel visitors. Their comments ranged from Forum, I'm thinking about the things we I'm sure you've read this issue's Letter reverent to reviling, as Brown is still build. This airplane, a 747, is certainly to a Friend by Jean Devos. I'd like to considered a controversial figure even to functional, but it is neither aesthetic nor reemphasize his final point. We are in this day. I spent significantly less time comfortable. This plane will get me from business to make money, but the work in period costume, working in the men's Dulles to San Francisco (hopefully) and shouldn't just be about the money. We're dry goods store, but it is that time that I the next will carry me to Honolulu, but changing the world with our cables. We want to write about today. would anyone in their right mind call it make history every single day, and it's a thing of beauty? important to recognize that. In the dry goods store at Harpers Ferry is a perfectly preserved sewing machine I'm writing this article on a 2009 15" Thanks Jean! from the 1860s. Built from iron and wood, MacBook Pro. It's a sleek computer, it is a beautiful machine that would be as aesthetic as a laptop can get in my the centerpiece of any antique collection. opinion, and it is certainly functional, Trust me, if you caught a glimpse of this but I'll be lucky to get 2 more years of sewing machine, you would want it for life out of it. 5 years is about the most your living room. And in spite of the you can hope for from a computer these years, the damn thing still works! It is a days, assuming you don't drop it in the

44 What do you think? Click on the Letter To The Editor icon and drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.