In This Issue: Time Has Come for Taking Innovation Under Water: the How and Why of a New Repeater

 70 m a Y Voice 2013 of the ISSN 1948-3031 Industry

Subsea Capacity Edition In This Issue: Time Has Come For Taking Innovation Under Water: The How And Why Of A New Repeater

SEACOM – Upgrading the African Internet

‘Onwards and Eastwards’ E-marine MD & CEO Highlights The Challenges And Ambitions Of Hosting The Next SubOptic

Trends In African International Capacity Purchasing Statistics

Issue #67 Issue Released Issue Issue #65 #66 Released #69 Released Released

Issue #68 Released

2 ISSN No. 1948-3031

PUBLISHER: Wayne Nielsen MANAGING EDITOR: Kevin G. Summers elcome to Issue 70 of SubTel certainly alive, but whether it is moving

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Stewart Ash, Forum, our Capacity / positively or negatively depends on Stuart Barnes, Tony Frisch, Stephen Jarvis, Omar SubOptic 2013 Wrap-up who you met in the various receptions. Jassim Bin Kalban, Arunachalam Kandasamy, W edition. Finance issues continue to be a concern, Mike Last, Brian Lavallée, Joerg Schwartz and a number of systems expected for The last time my family and I visited Submarine Telecoms Forum magazine is launch last year are looking anew for published bimonthly by Submarine Telecoms Normandy was in 1993 just before 2013. Technology continues to improve Forum, Inc., and is an independent commercial SubOptic in Versailles. publication, serving as a freely accessible by leaps and bounds with no end in forum for professionals in industries connected At the time, we were standing at the sight. But interestingly not a number with submarine optical fiber technologies and of new system names were floated. At techniques. Submarine Telecoms Forum may beginning of an incredible ramp-up of not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, the industry. Our BTM team was one a minimum, SubOptic proved again to in whole or in part, without the permission of of maybe ten exhibitors and we were all be an excellent opportunity to catch-up the publishers. tucked away in a single large tent that with old friends and network with new Liability: while every care is taken in was attached to various meeting and colleagues, and assess for oneself the preparation of this publication, the publishers presentation rooms. The number of direction of things. cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any errors which participants was surely much smaller And Normandy continues to be a may occur in advertising or editorial content, than recent years, but the enthusiasm wonderful visit, and the 15th century or any consequence arising from any errors (and subsequent flow of wine) was or omissions, and the editor reserves the right farm manor we stayed in again even to edit any advertising or editorial material certainly not lacking. Coming back has internet – although the younger submitted for publication. to Paris last month was among other members of our group who were things an interesting opportunity to Contributions are welcomed. Please forward to responsible for uploading the final the Managing Editor at [email protected]. review how our industry has evolved edition of STF Today over the years and where we might be might take umbrage Submarine Telecoms Forum, Inc. headed. 21495 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 201 with that. Sterling, Virginia 20166, USA subtelforum.com I came away with some interesting thoughts about the state of play 3 Copyright © 2013 Submarine Telecoms Forum, Inc. today in our industry. The business is In This Issue...

Exordium 3 SEACOM – Upgrading the 25 Back Reflection 40 Wayne Nielsen African Internet Stewart Ash Brian Lavallée & Arunachalam News Now 5 Kandasamy Conferences 44

Capacity Statistics 9 ‘Onwards and Eastwards’ 31 Advertiser Index 45 E-marine MD & CEO Highlights The Challenges 10 46 SubOptic 2013 Recap And Ambitions Of Hosting Coda Stephen Jarvis The Next SubOptic Kevin G. Summers Omar Jassim Bin Kalban Time Has Come For Taking 20 Innovation Under Water: The Trends In African 35 How And Why Of A New International Capacity Repeater Purchasing Stuart Barnes, Tony Frisch Mike Last & Joerg Schwartz

4 News Now  Africa Coast To Europe Submarine  Bharti Airtel to buy optical  Corning Optical Cabling Used by Fibre-optic Cable Inaugurated In network gear from US-based Ciena Allied Fiber for Ambitious Dark Accra Communications Fiber Project

 BT opens global development  BICS Selects Infinera DTN-X for  Corning to Provide Optical Cabling centre in Bangalore 500G Pan-European Network Solutions for Miami-to-Atlanta Segment of Allied Fiber’s Network-  Africa Coast to Europe Consortium  Breaking News : SubOptic 2016 in Neutral System Build and Alcatel-Lucent Further Dubai Strengthen Broadband Continuity  CSA Demonstrates Capabilities of In Africa With Maintenance Service  Business is Tough Out There: Guest USV During Live Field Tests Agreement Speaker, Chris Burke  DeepOcean acquires a 50% interest  Africa Gains In Connectivity With  Cable Repairs on a Crowded in ADUS Submarine Deals Continental Shelf : Oral Sesson TH2B  DeepOcean Group Awarded  Alcatel-Lucent To Help Ensure Trenching Contract in the North Sea Continuity Of Broadband Services  Coherent Transponders: Oral In Africa By Signing Maintenance Session TU2C  Different Viewpoints on Reliability: Services for West Africa Cable Masterclass Tutorial 3 System  Columbus Networks and CWC Form JV to Expand Subsea Network  E-marine Brings World ECFS  Allied Fiber Launches Miami to Platform Consortium Selected Xtera for Atlanta Segment of Its Network- Upgrading its Caribbean Festoon Neutral Fiber and Colocation  Coping with National Security Subsea Cable System System Regs: Oral Session WE2A  ECFS Consortium Selected Xtera for Upgrading its Caribbean Festoon Subsea Cable System News Now  ECFS Consortium Selected Xtera for  Globenet Completes Construction  Protecting the Submarine Cables Upgrading its Caribbean Festoon Of Bermuda-US (Segment 5) That Wire Our World Subsea Cable System Replacement  Prysmian Group Opens New  Ed Parsons: Keynote Speech 2  GlobeNet Opens Fastest US Optical Cable Plant In Slatina, Hibernia Networks Celebrates Its 10 Romania  Egypt: Divers Caught While Year Anniversary Cutting Internet Cable  Reliance Communications Ltd :  Huawei Marine Achieve Breakeven Reliance Globalcom integrates  Emmanuel Desurvire : Keynote by Year-end of 2012 Hawk cable system with Reliance Speaker Global Network  India Seeks Innovation Now Goes  Era of High Spectral Efficiency: Oral Under Water: Xtera Announces  Reliance Globalcom activates Session TU2C (3:30) New Repeater for Subsea Cable Mobily on its Hawk submarine Systems cable system  Etisalat Inks BBG Internet Agreement  Kenya: Seacom Launches a Cloud  Reliance Globalcom’s Hawk Services Unit Submarine Cable Creates New  Expresso ACE Fibre Cable Ready Middle East, India Opportunities For Launch In Ghana This Week  Matt Ridley: Keynote Speaker 1  Reliance Jio to use Bharti Airtel’s i2i  Finance: Round Table 1  Namibia: Telecom’s Own Pops for submarine cable for international WACS Connection connectivity  From Start to Finish: Xtera Expands Turnkey Offering and Joins ICPC  NGD And The Welsh Pirates,  RIL, Vodafone, Others Tie Up To Poison, and Politics : Masterclass 10 Construct Undersea Cable  Global Marine Appoints Bill Donaldson as New Chief Financial  Protecting Subsea Cables Using AIS:  Sabotage Threat to Undersea Cables Officer Oral Session TU1B (11:00) is Overblown News Now  Seaborn Networks Selects Equinix  Submarine Fibre Collaboration Sees  The Future of the Industry : for First Sao Paulo Gateway to US Local Expertise For Australian Oil Roundtable 3 And Gas  Severed cable blamed for Syrian  The Legal Detail: Masterclass Internet cut  Syria’s Internet Restored After Tutorial 6 Blackout  Single-Mode Fiber offers high  Top 10 telecom operators UAE, power, low loss at 100 Gbps.  TE Subcom Awarded Epic Contract Oman to be connected to new For Chevron Jack & St. Malo undersea cable system  Sri Lanka Dialog says submarine Undersea Network cable will give high speeds  Undersea Cable Cut Affects 50% of  TE SubCom Awarded Supply Pakistan’s Internet Traffic  Sri Lanka State-of-the-Art Advances Contract Of Poseidon Undersea Set New Standard for Spectral Cable System By Ocean Specialists,  Undersea Cable From Brazil Skips Efficiency and Distance Inc. Miami

 STF Today - Monday Wrap Up  TE SubCom Demonstrates Record-  Upgrades: Guide Session 3 Breaking Transpacific Transmission  STF Today @ SubOptic 2013  Visualizing the Impacts of Cable  Telecom Italia Sparkle Selects Breaks : Oral Session WE1B  STF Today @ SubOptic 2013 - iconectiv for Accurate Routing Episode 4 of Voice and SMS and Fraud  Why Undersea Internet Cables Are Prevention More Vulnerable Than You Think  STF Today @ SubOptic 2013 Wrap Up - Day Three  Telstra Eyes Slattery’s Singapore  WIOCC Continues African Undersea Cable Expansion  STF Today @ SubOptic 2013 Wrap Up - Tuesday  Telx Secures New US Connections  WIOCC Xtera Expands Turnkey to Brazil With Seaborn Networks Offering and Joins ICPC The Undersea Cable Report 2013 Intelligent intelligence - go beyond the numbers! From Terabit Consulting

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9 SubOptic 2013 Recap

10 Stephen Jarvis n an interview for a previous article, John Horne, one of the conference Iorganizers, said “I think there needs to be a forum, such as Sub-Optic, where representatives from all parts of the industry can get together.” He told me that the thing that makes SubOptic something special is the overall focus on paper presentation and the exchange of information from all areas.

Well, in the opinion of someone who didn’t know what the term “dark fiber” meant prior to attending Mike Conradi’s talk on how a lawyer handles due diligence, the 2013 SubOptic more than met that standard.

I am not a member of the telecoms industry. I feel like that’s an important distinction to make. I’m a run-of-the- sessions; one on the calculations of the ceremony the following morning). mill freelance journalist, which puts me cost and return on spare parts, another The very first event I attended was at a disadvantage compared to most on the challenges of piracy. I could a master class on reliability, both of everyone reading this magazine in never have imagined that the various systems and their components. Tony terms of Sub-sea Telecoms knowledge. presentations could deal with such a Frisch and Ed West represented both range of macro and micro issues that the supply and the demand side of It’s for that reason that when I attended the industry deals with. the issue, thoroughly examining the the SubOptic, I was fairly astounded by cost and return on buying replacement the information that was being shared In my work for the STFToday blog components. in the various master classes, sessions following the conference, I attended and round-tables. Maybe this was 19 of these events. The first day began The rest of the day included a Guide normal for everyone who knows what with the set-up of the stands (well, Session on upgrades led by Colin to expect, but it was something for the technically the conference began with Wallace of Ciena and a master class 11 uninitiated to watch all the different on the legal side of the industry. This Speeches were made by Richard Elliot, place that it’s been the last few years, included two distinct issues. The first Chairman of the Program Committee, has actually been steadily improving was presented by Mike Conradi from Fiona Beck, President of the SubOptic for many years and will continue to do DLA Piper on the subject of how a Executive Committee, and Philippe so. lawyer handles due diligence. The Dumont, President of Alcatel-Lucent second was an ominous presentation Submarine Networks, the company Events I made it to that day included by Simon Airey, also of DLA Piper, on that hosted the conference in Paris. three oral sessions and a guest speaker. the new UK Bribery Act. The guest speaker was named Chris This was directly followed by the first Burke. I mention this session especially “What we don’t know is that the keynote speaker: Matt Ridley, scientist, for two reasons. First, no one expected enforcement regime has changed,” journalist, and author of “The Rational the topic he gave his speech on. Second, Airey said. He made it clear that times Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves.” more than one person came up to me are changing, and the world is taking a afterwards to see if we’d taped it and if zero tolerance policy towards bribery. “The world economy is booming ahead they could have a copy. at three to four percent a year,” Ridley The next morning began with the said. His speech consisted of statistics "The people in senior capacities have 12 conference opening and welcome. and examples of how the world, scary become largely unskilled," Burke said. There has been a phenomena where say I will never again look something But his speech was truly about executives may have no real experience up on Google without noticing how the growth of the internet, which with the products you're trying to sell it sorts items by distance from my apparently has a few more users them. Because of this, he explains, location; which is just one way the coming just around the corner. “How people need to learn how to explain company employs GPS. Parsons makes are we going to make the internet why they should want their product the point that Google's real purpose is helpful for these next billion people?” despite their relative inexperience in to provide information. Apparently, There is growing use of smart phones the industry. He even had a seven step about 1/3 of the information people specifically for internet purposes in plan to go with it. search for is location related. Even countries like Kenya. when the question isn't about a specific The keynote speaker the next morning location, Google uses location to better “We’ve got to work hard to make was from Ed Parsons, Geospacial narrow down the answers they give broadband as accessible everywhere Technologist for Google. I can honestly you. else,” Parsons said.

For that day I attended two oral sessions and a roundtable on Finance. One of the oral sessions was on the topic of Regulatory Permits and Network Security. Kent Bressie gave an impressive look at the way national security concerns are becoming a major worry for cable companies.

There has been a shift in perception. So much so that when there is a break in a cable, the first thought isn't an accident, but a terrorist attack. This has led to all sorts of new oversight by governments, according to Bressie.

The final keynote speaker was Emmanuel Desurvire, who I apparently owe for the bandwidth I previously 13 thought was naturally occurring. For his speech, he explains the history whose topic varied greatly. My favorite However, the presenter that left of the erbium-doped fibre amplifiers of them was David Tossell, of Alcatel- the greatest impact was Ryoichi (EDFAs), a technology that made Lucent. He spoke on Piracy. Yatabe speaking about dealing the higher bandwidths possible. aftermath of Fukushima and nuclear A total of 76 vessels were recently contamination on the water. As many For the last day's events, I managed to attacked by pirates. Despite the almost would remember, the Great East Japan attend two roundtables, an oral session humorous things that come to mind earthquake and tsunami occurred on and a master class. The first of the when mentioning pirates, it’s not that March 11, 2011, at 2:46 pm. roundtables was entitled "Africa: The funny of an issue. Submarine cables Impact of an Unprecedented Wave of are located all over the work. The More than 20 cable faults in 7 systems Investment.' It's moderated by Yves threat of piracy and robbery is nothing occurred. The company KCS repaired Ruggeri, of France Telecom Orange. new, says Tossell. It’s recently become 11 of the cables. They experienced Participants include Funke Opeke, more of a problem. a number of challenges. The first of of Main One, Angelique Weeks, of Liberian Regulator, Nzioka Waita, of Safaricom, and Antonio Nunes, of Angola Cables.

The issues discussed ranged all over. According to Waita, there is a discrepancy in price for terrestrial lines. In some cases the cost for a far greater distance may be cheaper than closer areas. Weeks asked the question "How much is the private sector willing to invest without a clear return?" Capacity can get to the more isolated areas, but it requires the wireless option. "We can get it out there. It's imperative. How fast is the question."

The master class I attended was one I couldn’t pass up: Pirates, Poison, and 14 Politics. There were four presenters Ruggeri then invited the general manager of E-Marine to the stage and made a big announcement. Ibrahim Alowais was introduced at the SubOptic closing ceremony as it was announced that E-Marine will host SubOptic 2016 in Dubai.

“SubOptic enables us to not only celebrate and consider the state of our industry but it also enables us to look forward with the best the industry which was easing customers’ confusion. Nielsen, owner of SubTel Forum, which has to offer,” said Alowais. “Like our Fear of nuclear contamination caused donated the awards: industry Dubai has also changed… chaos during the process. Next, It’s only right that we should welcome they had to determine a permissible • Best Paper from a Newcomer: the world’s largest conference in the level of exposure, so that they could Nicole Starosielski submarine cable industry. We are repair cables near the Fukushima • Best Poster : Andy Palmer-Felgate confident that E-Marine and Dubai will disaster. Preventative measures they • Best Paper Presented: Elisabeth be the perfect platform to host.” took included revising the manual Rivera Hartling on security against radioactivity, And that finished out an exciting collecting data, using protective gear, An Award for Outstanding conference. Look forward to three and using multiple ways of measuring Contribution was also given to Elaine years from now in Dubai. radioactivity while working. Lastly, Stafford and Fiona Beck. After that cable repair was particularly difficult came the big news. First, Beck stepped Stephen Jarvis is a because of the earthquake. Landslides down from her position in SubOptic. freelance writer in the had congested and buried the cables. Washington D.C. area. He The repairs took a total of 154 days. "I'm pleased to announce your new has published articles and president is Yves Ruggeri," announced done editorial work with The day ended with a bang. The Beck. She had completed her two several publications including Submarine closing ceremony for the 2013 SobOptic year term as president of the executive Telecoms Forum. Also, he has been a conference featured an awards committee of SubOptic and had to pass speaker for the Popular Culture Association ceremony for a few different honors, the baton. / American Culture Association National handed out by Fiona Beck and Wayne 15 Conference. And the winners are...

16 The Best Paper From a Newcomer: Nicole Starosielski, New York University

“Surfacing: A Digital Mapping of Submarine Cables”

Abstract - There is a lack of public awareness about the importance of submarine cable systems, even despite the recent increase in the circulation of visual and geographic information about them. This lack of awareness can inhibit policy, regulation, and investment. This paper discusses an opportunity to improve the “cable literacy” of the general public, including policy-makers and regulators. “Surfacing,” a digital map of submarine cables built using web technologies, is designed in game- like format in which the user becomes the signal, traverses the network, and learns about the challenges companies face in constructing and maintaining cable systems.

17 Best Poster: Andy Palmer-Felgate, Verizon

“Marine Maintenance in the Zones - a global comparison of repair commencement times”

Abstract - Many factors can impact the time it takes to commence a submarine cable repair: permits, transits, vessel availability, weather, spares availability and security requirements to name just a few. This paper takes available repair durations spanning several years from across all of the World’s maintenance zones (ACMA, MECMA, SEAIOCMA, YZ & NAZ) to compare and contrast the mean time to repair by region. In addition, the underlying reasons for the widely varying timescales are explored, and common themes identified. The findings of this paper shed light on the geopolitical issues impacting the expeditious repair of submarine cables, which may have profound economic consequences for carriers and end- users alike in the countries and regions affected. Whilst no attempt is made here to suggest solutions, by presenting quantified regional differences in mean time to repair we aim to provide a global overview of what has become a significant issue for international 18 carriers. Best Paper Presented: Elisabeth Rivera Hartling, Ciena

“Using Coherent Technology for Simple, Accurate Performance Budgeting”

Abstract - Coherent technology, powered by advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP), provides access to a rich set of information on the optical field. Despite this, current practices in performance budgeting and system acceptance focus only on the pre-FEC bit error ratio, translated to dBQ2, and ignore the set of measures offered by coherent technology. In this paper, we discuss how coherent technology with advanced DSP can measure, in real- time, necessary components to derive performance budgets. We demonstrate a working example using commercially available 100 Gb/s coherent DP-QPSK modems with high gain soft FEC.

19 Time Has Come For Taking Innovation Under Water The How And Why Of A New Repeater

Stuart Barnes, Tony Frisch

20 & Joerg Schwartz ince the introduction of fiber optics to submarine telecommunications Sin the 1980’s there has only been one major evolutionary change in repeater technology, this being the switch from regenerative (3R) repeaters to optically-amplified repeaters, which made the undersea plant agnostic to the line rate and format. Such low speed of innovation seems surprising if compared with other advances in undersea communication technology. For example, let’s have a look at how terminal equipment, and in particular the Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) line rate, has changed over the same period. The first repeatered cable system was UK-Belgium 5 laid in 1986, operated with a single plesiochronous channel (it was regenerative!) at 140Mbit/s; recently, 100Gbit/s per wavelength was deployed on submarine links of the GBI network by Xtera. With odd releases (such as 420Mbit/s) there were eight incremental changes to the Lightweight repeater undergoing extensive terrestrial test to simulate deployment, line rate per system or subsequently handling and recovery wavelength in a period where repeater technology has only changed once! Other than the miniaturized 2-pair a decade. With the introduction of Submerged plant, however, needs to be repeater developed by start-up company coherent detection techniques coupled very much more reliable than terminal RedSky (subsequently acquired by with breakthroughs in Forward Error equipment that explains the reluctance Huawei Marine Networks) and some Correction (FEC) – such as soft-decision of suppliers to make changes without internal improvements, such as better coding – the TDM approach continues some pressure. spectral flattening, repeater technology to be appealing. However, there is not 21 has been little changed for well over much further to go with FEC; other digital technologies to allow transmit where Raman amplification leads to efficient than EDFA pumps and more pulse shaping and mitigate the effects higher line capacity and longer reach power is required, which might explain of non-linear impairments seem likely when compared to the conventional why people have shied away from to be a route to increased capacity. amplification approach. Coupled with this approach so far. Through careful There is no doubt that scientists and that, the UK arm of Xtera has a rich vein attention to the electronic design and engineers will continue to rise to this of skills in long-haul submarine system using more modern approaches to challenge, but it is equally clear that design and had been able to learn from drive circuitry Xtera has overcome this is not the only solution and that the experience of upgrading a number this barrier and is now able to offer the revisiting the somewhat neglected of different systems. first hybrid EDFA / distributed Raman submerged amplifier might also yield amplifier for use underwater. some benefits. So what are the main differentiators that are accessible by using Raman In doing this, Xtera has not forgotten About 3 years ago Xtera therefore amplification technology in a repeater? the critical standards of performance embarked on a journey to develop a There are actually two answers to this and reliability demanded by the new repeater to satisfy the conflicting question: the Raman effect can be used submarine communications industry needs of the industry. On the one to create gain in the line fiber, thus with a design that uses six pumps per hand, it had to be evolutionary to meet attaining a noise figure that is inherently amplifier pair with redundancy to the stringent reliability expectations of lower than that of a traditional Erbium- cover the possibility of a pump failing. the industry, but on the other hand it Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA); the Xtera has also selected pumps which also had to address the need for more Raman effect can also be utilized to have very good reliability pedigree and bandwidth/capacity at lower cost per create gain outside the fixed window will also be using control / supervisory transmitted bit. provided by classical EDFA amplifiers. unit redundancy. Throughout the The former opens the gate to increasing whole design and development One key advantage that Xtera had from the inter-repeater spans for some process Xtera has always been mindful the beginning was its rich history in specific applications, while the latter of the conservative approach that is Raman amplifier design. Xtera started can be used to widen the useable optical demanded by submarine cable system its company history in the late 1990’s bandwidth in a system. operators. The first repeater release as a start-up that was specifically has a bandwidth of more than 50nm on focused on Raman amplifier design, So far Raman amplification has had no transoceanic distances – nonetheless a filing well over 100 patents on this place in a real submerged amplifier, significant increase over current EDFA topic alone. This has been a consistent although there have been numerous designs – with an overall architecture theme running through all its product publications, some suggesting a hybrid that will be recognizable as essentially innovations, both in terrestrial and mix of EDFA and distributed Raman. an evolution from the “industry unrepeatered submarine systems However, the pumps needed are less standard”. 22 Next, Xtera has developed a modular to manufacture, offering the option particular oil and gas. It has the best approach to amplifier design that to assemble the repeater in much less specific strength of all the candidate allows the offering of at least three specialized, clean room environments, materials and excellent corrosion variants of the optical amplifier to and that may also offer the ability to characteristics in sea water. Together target different market segments. take some of the assembly and test with a small form factor amplifier Xtera has also learned from terrestrial closer to the deployment location. module, Xtera has evolved a much amplifier module suppliers who long lighter, smaller form factor product ago surpassed subsea cable system Finally, Titanium was chosen for the that is suitable for both surface industry in terms of miniaturization. housing and external metal units. laying and plough burial. In general, Allied to some proprietary tricks Xtera Titanium has become the material of the mechanical design was equally has developed a product that is easier first choice in the hydrospace sector, in challenging from inside to outside. The first challenge was building a Armored scalable internal unit that gave intimate cable being contact with the inside polymeric liner made ready (need for electrical insulation) in order for recent to give optimal heat transfer to the sea trial outside of the repeater and supported by comprehensive thermal modeling. Xtera has carried out extensive work with Southampton University to understand some of the fundamental characteristics of Titanium, such as corrosion, thermal, and hydrogen permittivity. In addition Xtera had to design new bulkheads and seals and new interconnection solutions. These designs were extensively tested at a conceptual level prior to mechanical testing and formal qualification. The journey has been long and arduous, as one would expect from a multi- disciplinary task such as this, with full knowledge that some of the concepts 23 discussed above would require extensive partnerships with cable manufacturers, appointed to the Advisory Board of the Aston concept and qualification testing, often survey companies, or marine installation University Institute of Photonics. with the assistance of cable or installation suppliers. partners. In addition to designing a Tony Frisch started at BT’s higher-bandwidth amplifier, Xtera had to These partnerships, combined with Research labs and then moved select electrical and optical components to in-house SLTE and abundant system to Alcatel Australia, becoming meet the stringent reliability requirements engineering expertise, will enable Xtera involved in testing submarine of the industry. From an electrical to be a serious player in this market by systems. A move to Bell perspective Xtera was focused not only on having control of the following elements Labs gave him experience in the control and supervisory aspects, but either through an internal resource or terminal design and troubleshooting, after also on broader system requirements such through partnership means: system which he went back to Alcatel France, where as surge resilience and the high voltage design, transmission equipment design he worked in Alcatel Submarine Networks’ reliability of the extremity boxes that join and manufacture, ocean cable, installation Technical Sales before moving to head Product the repeater to the cables. plant and finally repeater technology. Marketing. He is now SVP, Repeaters for Having established relationships with Xtera Communications. Formal and extensive qualification is the recognized leaders in cable and installation subject in this industry that burns up a Xtera was happy to embark on an exciting Dr. Joerg Schwartz is lot of time and cost. Based on in-house journey that has led to today’s product – responsible for Xtera’s experience developing and introducing which will continue by serving the needs Turnkey Solutions product terminal equipment to the submarine of new customers that are looking for a offering, delivering end-to- systems market Xtera felt it necessary to new generation of submerged plant for end submarine solutions to ask a reputable Tier 1 operator to act as an maximizing the reach, capacity and value network operators based on the company’s transmission, equipment, and independent qualification authority; this of their subsea assets. Tier 1 operator has audited the design, project execution expertise. Prior to this, specification and qualification process, Dr. Stuart Barnes joined Xtera Joerg has directed the NXT system definition which includes the usual gamut of in 2007 and serves as the and developed Xtera’s systems engineering terrestrial testing and sea trials. The latter CTO for submarine systems. team, providing network solution design, were facilitated by Xtera’s already ongoing Stuart has over 30 years of field and lab trials, sales support, and systems and expanding activities in the submarine experience in the submarine research. Other previous experiences include turnkey market, through which Xtera has telecommunications business. engineering and operational management roles already executed a number of full system Prior to Xtera, Stuart was the founder and for Ericsson, submarine terminal development deployments, ranging from redeployments COO of Polariq, as well as founder and CTO of for Alcatel, and founding an optical components to completely new systems and including both Azea Networks and of ilotron. In addition, company. repeatered and unrepeatered installations Dr. Barnes has held senior management of different sizes. Through this Xtera has positions at Atlas Venture, Alcatel Recherche, not only vastly expanded its in-house STC Submarine Systems and STC Cables expertise in planning and execution of Newport. Stuart holds over 20 patents, has published over 40 papers, and has been recently 24 submerged installation, but also developed SEACOM – Upgrading the African Internet

Brian Lavallée &

25 Arunachalam Kandasamy The African Market latest in optical networking technology up its own brand of localized language and supporting infrastructure is and culture content, participate in Affordable access to broadband is a seen as an ideal way to improve the global markets, enhance productivity major contributor to economic growth lives and livelihoods of Africans in and grow online business opportunities in developing countries. According a relatively short period of time. As — all in relatively short order. to a 2011 study by the World Bank, a world economies become increasingly 2 1.38 percent increase in a country’s interconnected, modern telecom According to TeleGeography , Africa GDP growth is experienced for every networks are essential for Africa to has already experienced 77 percent 10 percent increase in broadband enjoy the benefits of globalization. CAGR associated with international penetration — higher than any other bandwidth usage from 2008 to 2012, telecommunication service. Since Africa As shown in Figure 1, Africa currently clearly demonstrating its growing has, for different reasons, traditionally lags behind the rest of the world, adoption, and reliance on, international lagged behind other continents in terms but decisive steps are being taken connectivity. Numerous submarine of economic development, improving to increase its broadband Internet cables connecting the African continent its telecommunications networks connectivity. Connecting to the global to the rest of the world as well as network infrastructure as well as continuing investment in terrestrial networks and access have fueled Figure 1: this astounding growth, which will Internet only continue as reliable lower cost penetration bandwidth, particularly among the in Africa less connected landlocked countries, 1 (2Q2012) proliferates. Broadband connectivity can revolutionize how people solve 1. Internet World problems at individual, community, Stats, © Copyright Miniwatts Market- business, security, and national levels. ing Group Benefits related to tourism, education, manufacturing, job creation, healthcare, represents a significant opportunity enabling intra-Africa connectivity on a productivity, economic growth, and to close the broadband divide with reliable basis and at competitive costs even social inclusion can be realized the rest of the world. Since bandwidth will continue the process of putting from improved access to affordable access and cost is a major hindrance to Africa on an equal footing with the rest broadband. So it’s no surprise that the increased use of IT, improving the of the world. Reliable and high-speed substantial investment in Africa’s African telecom infrastructure using the connections allow Africans to access 2. International Bandwidth Usage by Region from 2008-2012, 26 content, both local and offshore, serve TeleGeography Figure 2: connectivity services. This directly SEACOM addressed the growing digital divide submarine previously experienced by numerous cable underserved countries along the network3 south and east African coast, as well as several landlocked countries. By

3. © Copyright replacing previously utilized satellite SEACOM, 2013 communications technology, and all of its limitations when compared to fiber optic networks, SEACOM brings the African telecommunications infrastructure on par with the rest of the developed world.

SEACOM provides reliable international and intra-Africa bandwidth to African carriers at wholesale prices, and their diverse and growing network offers city-to-city services to African carriers for connectivity within Africa and to and from Europe and Asia. Each CLS and data center attached to the telecom infrastructure, both in the principles. African ownership of SEACOM network is operated on an terrestrial and submarine segments, SEACOM currently stands at over 75 “open access” principle, which permits continues to increase. percent and this high level of regional direct access to any licensed or license- ownership and local presence enables exempt operator, thereby acting as a SEACOM, the Company SEACOM to better understand and catalyst to the East and South African address African market dynamics telecommunication markets. SEACOM is a privately owned and and associated demands. SEACOM operated pan-African Information developed and financed the first high- To reach inland across provinces, and Communication Technology (ICT) speed submarine cable serving the regions, and cities, SEACOM leverages enabler, driving the development of route between South Africa and Europe its subsidiaries and local partners the African Internet being built on the via East Africa and India to offer in each served country to carry 27 backbone of open-access and equitable high-quality and affordable Internet telecommunications infrastructure deep into landlocked countries. Center (NOC) based in Pune (India), (India), which provide increased SEACOM has developed, and continues and employs adequate trained and resilience for IP customers in the event to do so, numerous relationships to skilled resources across the network. of network interruptions. bring the benefits of the SEACOM SEACOM has continued to develop communications network to southern and mesh its network to offer diversity Network Upgrade Challenges and eastern Africa and continue the and resilience by securing capacity transformation that they started in from other suppliers on the East and Given the current unabated adoption 2009. West coasts of Africa as well as multiple of broadband connectivity in the routes within Europe and across Egypt African markets served by SEACOM, SEACOM, the Network (the only African carrier to offer this in it was evident their fully owned Egypt). This capacity can be used for submarine cable network needed to In late 2007, SEACOM began the customers who opt for protected be upgraded to maintain pace with construction of their ambitious services from SEACOM as full service increased capacity demands using submarine cable network, which was services supplier. SEACOM‘s IP-T and the very latest in coherent-based completed and Ready for Service MPLS networks are designed as highly optical transmission technology. (RFS) by mid 2009. The SEACOM meshed and resilient, offering multiple SEACOM required a Submarine submarine fiber optic network system breakouts to the Internet in London Line Terminating Equipment (SLTE) was launched in 2009 and serves to (UK), Marseilles (France) and Mumbai upgrade solution that allowed 10 Gb/s directly interconnect South Africa and Figure 3: East Africa with Europe and Southern Submarine Asia and has already connected many cable African countries including South network Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, details Rwanda, Uganda, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. SEACOM enables Africans to enjoy high-bandwidth services such as HDTV, IPTV, true broadband Internet, peer-to-peer networks, cloud, as well as numerous other connectivity-related services.

To ensure the SEACOM submarine cable is properly maintained, SEACOM 28 has a 24x7 Network Operations and 40 Gb/s channels to coexist on the perspective for wavelengths traveling channel rates offer improved spectral same wet plant. This allows existing different distances between India and efficiency and higher total capacities of 10 Gb/s channels based on legacy Africa. SLTE transponders using legacy wet plants that vastly surpass original Intensity Modulated Direct Detection IMDD have different launch power and maximum capacities. However, the (IMDD) technology to be redeployed receiver sensitivity requirements when types of services (SONET/SDH, OTN, or replaced, as required, without compared to newer coherent technology- and/or Ethernet) that are mapped into unnecessarily stranding network based transponders. This means that these higher channel rates must also be assets. It is a relatively simple task to obtaining optimum transmission planned to incorporate more expensive upgrade submarine networks to the performance is more involved when yet flexible multi-protocol client-side latest in coherent optical transmission these two different transmission interfaces or lower cost yet inflexible technology using card swaps at the technologies share the same wet plant single-protocol (Ethernet) client-side SLTE that require no alterations to the over varied distances. However, by interfaces. The decision must maximize existing wet plant. However, in the case leveraging deep understandings in the return on investment of the capacity of the SEACOM submarine network, IMDD, coherent transmission, and upgrade while meeting market the presence of two Branching Units wet plant technologies, SEACOM demands of today and tomorrow. (BU) meant added network design successfully increased capacity over Separating the client-side and line- complexity, which was overcome targeted segments of their submarine side functions to different circuit packs using innovative submarine network network assets using 40 Gb/s technology facilitates the decision, as they can be technologies and design techniques. with a rapid and smooth evolution changed as the market evolves, while path to 100 Gb/s, as dictated by future being able to maintain use of the more As shown in Figure 3, the SEACOM market dynamics. expensive coherent-based line-side network has two branching units in their optical interfaces. network that together provide access More than just the Line Rate between Zafarana (Egypt), Djibouti Once client-side and line-side hardware City (Djibouti), Mombasa (Kenya), and Although channel line rates receive has been evaluated and selected, Mumbai (India). Given the distance a lot of attention in the media, there management integration of this new from BU-A to Djibouti is relatively short is far more to upgrading a network. hardware comes to the forefront and, that standard unamplified add/ The line rate is just one aspect of a because the network Operations team drop to and from shore is implemented, typical upgrade, which also includes will spend most of their time interfacing upgrading this portion of the segment client-side interfaces, management to this new hardware via the Network is relatively straight forward. However, integration, rolling traffic from lower Management System (NMS). A BU-B is a non-standard BU fed by three rate channels to higher rates channels, seamless hardware upgrade requires a amplified chains, making it more of and/or moving channels within the seamless NMS upgrade, which was part 29 a challenge from a power balancing available repeater spectrum. Higher of SEACOM’s decision-making process from the start. Fortunately, third-party Boosting the African Economy national broadband infrastructure upgrades on existing wet plants are and its capabilities represents a facilitated via flexible NMS offerings Africa is the second-largest and down payment in the future of their that enabled SEACOM to manage both second-most populous continent on citizens. Failure to do so means the the existing and upgraded portions of Earth. It covers roughly six percent very real risk of lagging permanently their expansive network from a remote of the world’s total surface area and behind developed countries within location, allowing for proactive and 20.4 percent of the total land area. the interconnected global economy. reactive management of their network According to the United Nations, as of SEACOM recognizes this imperative assets from the Network Operations 2011, African had a population of just and has embarked on a journey to not Center (NOC). The uniquely long over one billion people, or roughly 14 only turn up the first submarine cable distances associated with submarine percent of the world’s total population in 2009 to connect South Africa and East networks make efficient network of about 7 billion people. However, Africa to the rest of the world, but to management from a remote relocation accessing over one billion people with a maintain pace with subsequent growth that much more important to submarine relatively limited telecom infrastructure by upgrading their network from 10 cable operators. means that the broadband and digital Gb/s to 40 Gb/s technology today, and divide could continue to increase were 100 Gb/s tomorrow. SEACOM upgraded their network using it not for the significant investments 40 Gb/s coherent-based technology to being made by major telecom service Brian Lavallée is the Director meet current market demands, with the providers such as SEACOM. Increased responsible for Global option to upgrade to the latest in 100 access to lower cost, reliable and Networks Solutions at Ciena Gb/s technology, as market dynamics scalable bandwidth is one key solution continue to evolve. The mixing of 10 to aid Africa in its quest to improve its Gb/s, 40 Gb/s, and 100 Gb/s channels national economies and the welfare is possible using the latest in coherent- of its people. Increasing submarine Arunachalam Kandasamy is based technology, allowing SEACOM network capacity that interconnects Head of Network Operations to select different channel rates to meet Africa to the rest of the world, at more at SEACOM their specific market demands while accessible prices, is a significant step avoiding the expensive stranding of towards improving the economies of network assets. Channels can be moved many African countries along with within the spectrum to maximize end- associated benefits of a higher standard to-end transmission performance or of living. replaced outright with new higher rate technologies, as offerings evolve. Governments around the world 30 understand that investing in their ‘Onwards and Eastwards’ E-marine MD & CEO Highlights The Challenges And Ambitions Of Hosting The Next SubOptic

31Omar Jassim Bin Kalban ith over 700 delegates, and four days of in- Wdepth and insightful industry discussions and networking opportunities, SubOptic 2013 was one of the most successful events in its 27 year history. So as this prestigious event moves East, from Paris to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), E-marine has a major challenge ahead to make it as good, if not better, than the last event.

As the Middle East’s principal provider of submarine cable solutions, it is an honour to be awarded the privilege of hosting the next edition of this outstanding event. As an organisation that has helped to pioneer the development of the Middle East’s subsea cable infrastructure, we are excited to bring this important global this time E-marine has laid some of capacity from the Gulf countries, which event to the region. E-marine has the first communication cables to the is showing significant growth. become part of the growth engine that United Arab Emirates, connecting it helps to facilitate the communications together with neighboring countries. So the arrival of SubOptic to Dubai in infrastructure in the Middle East and The Arabian peninsula has been a 2016 will be during what is a critical beyond and makes a major contribution critical location in the progress of and exciting time, against a backdrop to the advancement of the region – submarine telegraphy between the of significant growth in capacity that is stretching from India and Iraq to Egypt East and the West, since the end of expected to take place over the coming and Tanzania. the 19th century and more recently, the years. Middle East region has seen an influx The company was born out of a need in the construction and announcement The appetite for businesses and to serve the region, from the region, of new submarine cable systems and consumers for new services and and has over 25 years of subsea cable competing terrestrial systems, along applications, particularly mobile experience in the Middle East. During 32 with the total demand for international broadband growth, continues to drive cable initiatives to expand connectivity As hosts we are thrilled that the despite being modern, manages to hold and capacity, and the pace of change SubOptic Committee is entrusting on to its cultural heritage. continues to accelerate. E-marine to host the event outside of Europe, Japan or the United States The strategic location of the UAE and And as with any rapidly changing for its 30th anniversary. Much like our Dubai is fitting, not only because of industry, it is critical for the industry rapidly changing industry, Dubai has its excellent flight connections and a and the companies that form part of also changed beyond belief since the world renowned hospitality industry it to be aware of, and prepared for, first SubOptic event back in 1986, when but, with many subsea cables running fluctuating business drivers that can it was a very different place to what it through the region, this too makes it impact our organisations’. SubOptic is today. From its humble beginning the ideal place to discuss and promote Dubai will enable us to not only as a pearl diving centre to one of the the submarine cable industry. celebrate and consider the state of world’s fastest growing cities on earth, industry today and the role it has Dubai has earned itself the reputation We have the world’s tallest building, played throughout history, but enable as ‘the gateway between the east the world’s largest mall, and world’s us to look forward to its commercial and the west’. As someone who has biggest aquarium, among many other and technological future with the best personally witnessed this rapid change record breaking achievements; so it experts the industry has to offer. I look forward to welcoming delegates is only right that we should welcome to experience our wonderful city that, the world’s largest conference in the 33 submarine cable industry. From the have a strong focus on the future of the Omar Jassim Bin Kalban timeless tranquility of the desert to the industry. We will work closely with is Managing Director lively bustle of the souk, Dubai offers the Programme Chair and Executive and CEO of E-marine, a kaleidoscope of attractions. It is also Committee to develop one of the most the principal provider of a major international business hub exciting and engaging progammes to submarine cable solutions with excellent infrastructure. The city date. in the Middle East. He is responsible for has also established itself as a leading leading the company’s operations and conference and exhibitions destination We are confident that that Dubai will driving profitable growth in the region, and we have already begun working offer the perfect platform for the as well as ensuring a superior customer searching for the best deals, at the best ninth edition of SubOptic on its 30th experience for regional and international venues to match the merit of this event. anniversary. customers.He oversees all elements of the business which operates in the Middle East The event programme will be subsea cable region stretching from Sri generated over the next year, and will Lanka in the East, spanning across The Gulf and Red Sea, to South Africa in the West. This also includes E-marine’s cable and storage depots in Hamriyah, UAE and Salalah, Oman and the E-marine fleet of cable ships, remotely operated vehicles and marine facilities, which are considered to be one of the most important support pillars for the regional digital infrastructure. He began his career as a graduate trainee with Etisalat-UAE in the 1980s after graduating from North-Eastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Omar was appointed as CEO of E-marine in 1998 to create, develop and grow a stand-alone unit for subsea cables and services at regional and international levels.

34 Trends In African International Capacity Purchasing

35Mike Last n increasing number of Improved ICT infrastructure, and time, Internet bandwidth has grown reports are highlighting particularly the recent advances in enormously as hundreds of thousands Athe strengthening presence international connectivity, is playing a of kilometres of new fibre-optic cables of Africa on the world’s economic critical role in this economic growth. have been laid across the continent and stage and the steep growth curves Meanwhile, business and domestic millions of dollars have been invested exhibited by many economies in the customers in Africa are displaying a in new mobile technologies to serve world’s second largest continent. The seemingly insatiable appetite for the an increasing number of its 1 billion Economist, for example, reported1 that reliable, high-performance services citizens. Mobile penetration across the for the period 2001 to 2010, six of the enabled by the diversity-rich, high- continent now exceeds 60%, compared ten fastest growing global economies capacity bandwidth becoming to approximately 85% globally, and were in Africa. Analysts anticipate an available through the integration of this is up from around 20% just seven overall increase in GDP of between 5 new submarine cables with enhanced years ago3. Mobile penetration in sub- and 7 per cent across the continent as terrestrial networks. Saharan Africa is expected to reach a whole this year, and it is predicted 75% by 2016. that for the period 2011 to 2015, no less A combination of improved internet than seven of the ten fastest growing access and the increasing affordability Growth in internet usage in Africa has economies in the world will be in of high-specification mobile handsets also been staggering, from 4.5 million Africa - raising the continent’s profile have contributed to the phenomenal users at the start of the century to more in the global marketplace still higher. growth of mobile, internet and data than 167 million at the end of 20124. services over the past few years, and Unlike most other parts of the world, these are playing a pivotal role in the relatively high cost (compared Africa’s economic expansion. to average income) of PC ownership and the limited availability of fixed- According to the World Bank2, Africa’s line infrastructure in Africa have mobile phone market has expanded resulted in the majority of this growth rapidly from around 50 million coming from mobile internet. In South subscribers in 2003 to approximately Africa, for example, more than 90% of 650 million at the end of 2012 – making broadband internet is delivered over it larger than both the European Union mobile devices and in Kenya more and the United States. At the same than 98% of internet access is over the mobile infrastructure. 2. ICT’s delivering home-grown development solutions in Africa (World Develop- ment Bank, December 2012 - http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/ EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTINFORMATIONANDCOMMUNI 3. http://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/africamo- CATIONANDTECHNOLOGIES/0,,contentMDK:23325885 bileobservatory2011-1.pdf ~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:282823,00. 4. Internet World Stats, January 2013, Miniwatts Marketing Group - http:// 36 1. ‘Africa rising’, The Economist - , 3 December 2011 html www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm These transformational changes, which are radically improving how businesses in Africa operate and positively impacting the way many Africans go about their daily lives, have only been possible with the dramatic advances made in the availability, reach, reliability, capacity and diversity of international submarine and terrestrial fibre connectivity into, within and out of Africa.

From availability and price to diversity and quality

The explosive growth in Africa’s international connectivity has led to some radical shifts in the decision- making thinking being applied to purchasing international capacity into Africa: SAT3/SAFE, connecting a and ACE (African Coast to Europe) and out of Africa. number of countries across western serving the west African region; and and southern Africa; and Atlantis-2, on the east coast Seacom, TEAMS (The Historically, the only consideration linking Senegal and Cape Verde to East African Marine System), LION2 for carriers looking to purchase South America and Europe. Most (Lower Indian Ocean Network), international connectivity into international links used expensive, SEAS (Seychelles East Africa System) and out of Africa was, purely and low capacity satellite circuits, with and EASSy (East African Submarine simply, its Availability – was there the high costs severely restricting System) – bringing the total design an international submarine cable to internet uptake and inhibiting rollout capacity of international submarine which they could connect? If not, then of broadband services. cables into and out of sub-Saharan expensive satellite connectivity was the Africa to more than 22Tbps. only option. However, since 2009, nine new cables have come on stream – Main One, Glo- At the beginning of 2009, only two 1, WACS (West Africa Cable System) 37 international cables served sub-Saharan Terrestrial networks improving too Africa’s total inventory of terrestrial decision for international submarine transmission networks had surpassed cable capacity into Africa. As As new submarine cables were landed, 785,500 kms - laid end-to-end, that is wholesale prices fell, operators were this strengthened the business case for enough network infrastructure to wrap able to purchase more capacity to meet improving the reach, reliability and around the earth more than 19 times. the ever-growing demands of their capacity of terrestrial fibre networks This compares to 702,295 kms in Jan customers. within Africa. 2012, 660,230 kms in June 2011, 585,468 kms in June 2010 and 465,659 kms With increasing availability and falling Between 1995 and 2005, US$25 in June 2009. Of the total inventory, costs of high-speed international billion was invested in the ICT sector 438,838 km is fibre-optic network connectivity into Africa, domestic in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly by – representing the vast majority of and business end-users have become

private operators and investors. This new deployments. Over the last 12 increasingly dependent upon the investment resulted in a rapid expansion months, an average of >115 kms of high-performance services on offer of communication networks, and by new fibre network entered service per and the opportunities they create. 2006 more than half of the population day and there will soon be continuous From improved business efficiency of sub-Saharan Africa was living under interconnected terrestrial fibre network and productivity, through to accessing a mobile footprint. In some African running from Cape Town to Cairo. music and video streaming, online countries, such as Kenya and Malawi, gaming and popular social networking almost the entire population is now Equally importantly, the new cables applications such as Facebook, YouTube within range of a mobile network. have also encouraged a competitive and Twitter, customers now want, market for capacity sales. As a result, expect and demand access to these This investment is ongoing; according Price increasingly became the key internet-enabled functions 24x7x365. to Hamilton Research5 by Q1 2013 consideration in the purchasing

38 5. Africa Bandwidth Maps - http://www.africabandwidth- maps.com This evolution in end-user expectations further, with the focus increasingly growth in the use of data-rich personal heralded a further change in shifting from simple diversity to and business applications – is making international capacity buying behaviour. securing a High-quality network. the African continent a place of genuine The leading ISPs, telcos and carriers Here, quality encompasses many and significant opportunity. started to place greater emphasis on different aspects of the overall securing network Diversity to reduce international capacity offering: Whilst the wave of new submarine the impact of individual cable cuts and how well protected and reliable the cable deployments to connect up other service-affecting disruptions, so primary network route is, the ability Africa has largely subsided, local cable that they could deliver the high-quality to deliver alternative routes to avoid builds, large-scale capacity purchases services increasingly demanded by network bottlenecks; how quickly and and upgrades will ensure that the their customers. efficiently traffic can be re-routed when competitive market for international a service interruption does occur, and bandwidth continues. With telcos In the most competitive markets, the the costs associated with this; levels of and ISPs keen to take advantage discussion is no longer simply about support; responsiveness to changing of the opportunities presented by whether or not to invest in diversity, requirements; and the desire to create developments in Africa, buying it is now about having sufficient long-term partnerships. behaviours will continue to evolve in the diversity – truly redundant capacity market for international connectivity on multiple cables. In such competitive Opportunity Africa into, within and out of Africa. environments, a key consideration for carriers, national operators and ISPs For Africa as a whole, continued Mike Last Director, is to provide their customers with the expansion of the ICT industry is a Marketing & International highest quality of service as excessive critical enabler for growth - attracting Business Development at downtime risks an exodus of customers foreign investment and financing, WIOCC to ‘more reliable’ competitors. This creating opportunity and employment, means ensuring they have sufficient generating income and improving lives. capacity and enough diversity across It will also continue to be one of the the right networks – i.e. those that will key factors in the ongoing emergence best serve them and their customers in of a larger and more influential African terms of service continuity, network middle-class. resilience and network management. For African and international telcos As a result, purchasing in the and ISPs, a powerful combination of international African capacity market factors – including the explosion in 39 has recently begun to evolve a step mobile broadband uptake and huge Back Reflection by Stewart Ash Other Atlantic Telegraph Cables In France, thoughts quickly turned to to a Hearts Content to Valentia cable, direct communication with the USA. and Telcon laid it in 1873. This left Aficionados of the history of our Frédéric Emile Baron d’Erlanger (1832- a residue from the original order of industry will probably be familiar 1911) and Paul Julius Freiherr von approximately 1,000nm of cable and so with the famous story of the Atlantic Reuter (1816-99), backed by British a further order for 976nm was placed Telegraph. This traditionally covers finance, launched a new company, the with Telcon and a new Newfoundland- the period from the initial attempts in French Atlantic Telegraph Company Valentia cable was laid in 1874. 1857-58 to the finally successful 1865 (La Société du Câble Translantique and 1866 cables. However, this was by Française), in 1869. This company In 1873, John Pender (1816-96), with no means the end of the story. laid a cable between Brest and St significant support from Siemens Brothers set up The Direct United States In 1866, the two working transatlantic Pierre (a French territory off of Newfoundland), with an extension Cable Company with the intention of telegraph cables were owned and directly linking the UK and the USA. operated by the Anglo-American to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This cable was manufactured and installed However, it soon became clear that, Telegraph company, which had bought with the available technology, the out the New York, Newfoundland and by the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company (Telcon). transmission speed would be too slow London Telegraph Company in 1864. to compete with existing cables and so It had a working relationship with the In 1873, the French Company was absorbed by Anglo-American. At the direct route was abandoned. An Atlantic Telegraph Company up until intermediate landing was essential and the two companies merged in 1873. For the time of the take-over, the French Company already had another trans- so, in 1874, the Faraday, on its maiden a few years they enjoyed a monopoly voyage, laid the cable from Rye Beach, over trans-Atlantic telegraphy and Atlantic cable on order from Telcon, it was intended for Brest to Halifax, Nova USA to Tor Bay, Nova Scotia and with it a virtual license to print money. on to Ballinskelligs in Ireland. John 40 Scotia. Anglo-American diverted this Pender and William Siemens had a of La Compagnie Française due to the respective contributions. This significant financial investment in Télégraphe de Paris à New York. A was similar to the deal agreed with the this company, which was originally trans-Atlantic cable was ordered from Direct Company earlier. intended to compete with the Anglo- Siemens Brothers and was laid between American group, of which Pender was Brest and St Pierre with extensions In 1881, Jason “Jay” Gould (1836- then the chairman. However, as the from St Pierre to Cape Cod and Brest 1892) set up the American Telegraph direct route proved impractical, the to Cornwall. The company came to be and Cable Company that installed a Direct Company very quickly came to known as the P-Q Company, after its Siemens Brothers manufactured, trans- a revenue sharing arrangement with founder. Shortly after the cable went Atlantic cable between Nova Scotia and Anglo. into commercial service, P-Q negotiated Sennen Cove in Cornwall. A second a commercial arrangement with Anglo- Siemens Brothers trans-Atlantic cable In 1879, a French financier, Monsieur American. Their agreement was for the was laid for the company in 1882. The Augustin Thomas Pouyer-Quertier pooling of all earnings, the income from Western Union Telegraph Company (1820-91), was behind the formation the pool to be divided in proportion was the pioneer of land telegraphy in the USA and it entered submarine telegraphy when it acquired a majority share-holding in the International Ocean Telegraph Company, in 1873. In 1881, Western Union entered the trans- Atlantic cable market when it made an agreement to lease the American Telegraph and Cable Company’s cables. Weston Union very quickly established a close working relationship with Anglo-American, a co-operation which was destined to survive for some decades. By 1882, there were four companies operating telegraph cables across the Atlantic but, because of the agreements in place between them, they were all effectively under the control of Anglo- American and Western Union. This 41 cables. Consequently, the CCC was set up with the duel intention of providing the Herald with preferential rates and to compete with the Anglo-American, Western Union cartel. The main links were from Waterville to Nova Scotia, with an extension on the American side to New York and on the European side, extensions to Weston-super-Mare and Le Havre. The main trans-oceanic cables opened for traffic on Christmas Eve 1884 with the extensions being in place by 1885. The aggressive pricing of the CCC immediately captured a lot of traffic from the incumbent carriers. This initial success was to start a price war that would rage for several years. But that is another story, and for that you will have to wait until the next edition. meant that there was no competition Mayo, Ireland. On 3rd November and consequently pricing was high and 1883, the partners accepted a proposal very similar, on all routes from Siemens Brothers for two trans- Atlantic cables. On the 10th December th On 28 September 1883, a co- 1883, the Commercial Cable Company partnership was entered into between (CCC) was incorporated in New John William Mackay (1831-1902), an York, and took over the rights of the American mining magnate, born in Siemens Brothers contracts. A new Dublin, who had made his fortune and significant player had entered in Gold and Silver mines; first in the arena. As a newspaper owner, California and then Nevada; James Bennett recognized the importance Gordon Bennett (1841-1918), proprietor of telegraph in obtaining news from of the New York Herald, and Arthur Europe and was perturbed by the high th Edmund Denis Dillon (1812-92), 16 cost of obtaining it over the existing 42 Viscount of Costello Gallen, in County where it’s never been done before

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o, did you enjoy SubOptic in Paris? that could improve the service for future I hear that the food and wine in conferences? As always, we at SubTel Sthat part of the world are passably Forum want to hear your thoughts good and the scenery is pleasent. They and suggestions. I also want to thank even say that the language is fairly Stephen Jarvis and Kacy Nielsen, romantic. I also heard that SubOptic whithout whom our SubOptic coverage was spectacular. I wish I could have would not have been possible. been there, but lucky for me, I was able to keep tabs on the conference thanks to Thanks for reading, and we'll see you in STF-Today. July with our next issue.

That's right, SubTel Forum had people on the ground at SubOptic. They were blogging live from various sessions, interviewing panelists and ending each day with a recap of that day's news and events. I almost felt like I was there, except for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I was able to check our site every morning and learn about the highlights of the previous day.

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