Pacific Outlook Issue Issue 42, January 2009

#42 Pacific Outlook Issue J an 9 uary 200 An international forum for the expression of ideas and opinions pertaining to the submarine telecoms industry With this in mind, we have some with his ever insightful observations, to the 42nd Welcome excellent articles to start this new and of course, our ever popular, issue of Submarine Telecoms Forum year. “where in the world are all those magazine, our Pacific Outlook pesky cableships” is included as well. edition. Paul Budde and Kylie Wansink provide their interesting vantage on To the new year, with all its new 2009 promises to be an exciting year… the Asia Pacific region, while Roland possibilities, and as always, save me To say it has been an interesting few Lim highlights recent industry a seat at the Mai Tai Bar. months would be ludicrous; it has collaborative strategies. Anne been far more than that. But what I LeBoutillier introduces a new industry find interesting is trying to discern subsea conference, as Graham Evans what is happening in the markets, shows some encouraging Pacific and where and how fast things are market signs ahead. Chris Barnes, headed. To listen to the “experts” Steve Lentz and Peter Phibbs update and politicians is equally dismaying the NEPTUNE Canada underwater because many are simply speculating observatory, and Peter Evans beyond their comfort zone. So what spotlights developments in the Asia I have learned to do is listen anew to Pacific region. Brett O’Riley puts his the Depression era generation as they own spin on times ahead, while Paula have lessons to share, and their words Dobbyn discusses a new Oregon cable are succinct and ring true - this, too, landing station. Jean Devos returns 2 shall pass. #42 Pacific Outlook 24 Global Marine Systems Issue 35 ICPC J an 9 12 Nexans uary 200 5 OFS 40 STF Advertising 18 Subsea Communications Conference 2009 4 WFNS

5 News Now 25 The NEPTUNE Canada Cabled 41 The Cableships Ocean Observatory System 10 The New Submarine Paradigm 46 Letter to a Friend Jean Devos Paul Budde and Kylie Wansink 27 NEPTUNE Canada Update Chris Barnes, Steve Lentz, and Peter 47 Upcoming Conferences 13 Collaboration The Catalyst For Phibbs Growth Roland Lim 29 Spotlight on Asia Pacific 16 Introducing Subsea Peter Evans Communications! Anne LeBoutillier 32 Pacific OutlookBrett O’Riley 19 The Future’s Bright, the Future’s……. In Asia and the 36 Florence By The Sea Paula Dobbyn PacificGraham Evans

3 Houston +[1] (281) 710-8721 London +[44] (0) 2 033 717 338 Washington, DC +[1] (202) 558-7514 wfnstrategies.com

Engineering of submarine and terrestrial optical cable, microwave/WiMax, mobile, satellite and RF systems for telecom, oil & gas and government clients A synopsis of current news items from NewsNow, the weekly news feed available on the Submarine Telecoms Forum website.

World’s first integrated satellite-terrestrial network deployment was made in 2008 mostly provides capacity between the Clair and network delivering mobile video with in Réunion’s Saint-Denis commune and in the Schiehallion installations West of Shetland interactive services showcased at island’s main towns. Alcatel-Lucent’s UMTS and BP’s North Sea headquarters in Aberdeen International Consumer Electronics Show Radio Access [Read more] via the SHEFA-2 and FarIce submarine cable (January 7th, 2009) systems. Faroese Telecom has [Read more] ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited SubTel Forum To Exhibit at PTC ‘09 (NASDAQ: ICOG) and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext (January 6th, 2009) AT&T Opens First Data Centre in India Paris and NYSE: ALU) will be demonstrating the As SubOptic 2010 Media Partner and Programme (December 11th, 2008) world’s first fully integrated satellite-terrestrial Committee Member, WFN Strategies’ SubTel AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced that it has network being used to deliver mobile video and Forum is pleased to announce its exhibiting at opened its first data centre in Bangalore, India. interactive two-way communications services Pacific Telecommunications Conference 2009 The new data centre will help meet the growing during the International [Read more] on 18-21 January at Hilton Hawaiian Village in demand from multinational customers in India Honolulu, Hawaii USA. Come and hear Keith for online data centres with highly resilient Alcatel-Lucent successfully deploys a 3G+ Schofield, Chairman of the [Read more] facilities, a wide range of IT [Read more] network for SRR in Réunion (January 7th, 2009) Faroese Telecom Is Bringing Capacity to BP’s Global Crossing Reports GCUK’s Third Quarter Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) Assets Clair and Schiehallion 2008 Results (December 11th, 2008) announced today it has successfully deployed (December 18th, 2008) Global Crossing (NASDAQ:GLBC) , a leading a 3G+ network for the mobile operator SRR. Faroese Telecom and BP have signed a long global IP solutions provider, today announced The first phase of this UMTS/HSPA wireless term contract whereby Faroese Telecom third quarter financial results for its subsidiary, Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Chunghwa Telecom and Alcatel-Lucent to the immediate availability of a virtual private Limited (GCUK). Highlights GCUK generated deploy Taiwan’s first femtocell network to local area network service (VPLS) in 14 82 million pounds in revenue in the third quarter, improve mobile network coverage in homes countries across Europe and Asia Pac. AT&T’s with adjusted gross margin of 68 percent or 56 and offices (December 11th, 2008) VPLS service, called OPT-E-WANSM, enables million pounds [Read more] Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) businesses to link multiple locations - whether today announced that it has been awarded across the city or around the [Read more] Michael Boustridge to lead BT Asia Pacific a Femtocell bid from Chunghwa Telecom, (December 11th, 2008) Taiwan’s largest telecommunications provider, Etisalat, France Telecom Formalize Agreement BT today announced that BT Americas CEO to deploy Taiwan’s first femtocell network, which (December 8th, 2008) Michael Boustridge is to also lead BT’s Asia will enhance the coverage [Read more] Following a Memorandum of Understanding Pacific operations. These span 16 countries with (MoU) signed on 2 July 2008, Etisalat and over 4,000 direct staff. Michael succeeds Allen LGS Software Solutions Team Designs Custom France Telecom announced yesterday that they Ma who retires on 5 January 2009, after four Viewer that Improves Management of Military had signed a cooperation agreement covering years leading BT Asia Pacific’s operations. Asia Digital Engineering Data Digital Home services, content, submarine Pacific and North America represent important (December 10th, 2008) cable networks and enterprise solutions. The growth [Read more] LGS, a subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: companies said that they agree to target future ALU) dedicated to serving the U.S. government projects together involving new submarine BT works with Cabinet Office to address community, announced today that the Navy cables, in particular [Read more] emergency planning (December 11th, 2008) Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) has successfully BT today announced that it has been awarded deployed a custom-designed LGS desktop The Voyage that Changed the World a contract by the UK Cabinet Office Civil application for 230,000 users. The LGS (December 8th, 2008) Contingencies Secretariat, and Communities application, called the LT Viewer, [Read more] The International Cable Protection Committee and Local Government to develop a national has issued the following press release to note extranet to help government, local authorities AT&T Announces Expanded Availability of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the first and emergency services respond to civil Global Virtual Private Local Area Network transatlantic fiber optic cable. On December emergencies, such as floods and outbreaks of Service into 14 Countries in Europe and Asia 14, 1988, the first fibre-optic cable to cross an agricultural diseases. The National Resilience Pac (December 9th, 2008) ocean came into service. This was a momentous Extranet (NRE) [Read more] AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced expanded event because the new technology opened the 6 global reach for AT&T’s Ethernet portfolio with door to [Read more] GO Cable Installation Begins GO’s Malta-Italy Cable Construction to Begin significant progress in tackling Corporate Social (December 8th, 2008) (December 1st, 2008) & Environmental Responsibility issues. The Work to lay a second submarine link between Cable-laying works on the second submarine World Communication Awards [Read more] Malta and Sicily has started in St. Paul’s link to Sicily owned by Malta’s quad-play Bay, Malta, a few days behind schedule communications provider GO has started at Estonia’s Elion Enterprises teams with Alcatel- brought about by strong gale force winds last St Paul’s Bay as the Italian vessel carrying out Lucent to simplify management of triple-play week. GO, Malta’s quad-play communications these works arrived in Malta last week. The services (November 25th, 2008) provider, which owns the submarine link, said process of laying the cable between St Paul’s Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) the work commenced after the cable ship Teliri, Bay and Mazara Del Vallo, south [Read more] today announced that it is teaming with Elion commissioned [Read more] Enterprises Ltd., the largest telecommunications Elster Group chooses BT for global IT and provider in Estonia, to offer a dramatically The Voyage that Changed the World communication services improved triple play (voice, data and video) (December 2nd, 2008) (December 1st, 2008) experience to Elion’s customers. Alcatel-Lucent On December 14, 1988 the first fibre-optic cable BT Germany and Elster Group signed a will deploy its home network management to cross an ocean came into service. This was a substantial, 8-year outsourcing contract for solution, providing streamlined [Read more] momentous event because the new technology international IT and communications. Under the opened the door to low cost transmission of terms of the agreement, BT will provide data Alcatel-Lucent and The Ministry of Higher electronic data between continents. The timing centres, the wide-area data network (WAN), Education Training and Scientific Research was perfect: it coincided with the development desktop support, user help desk and a variety of the Kingdom of Morocco through their of the Internet and together these [Read more] of IT services across 38 countries. The BT HP partnership make collaboration platforms Alliance plays a [Read more] available to Moroccan universities New Deep-Sea Observatory Goes Live (November 25th, 2008) (December 1st, 2008) BT wins global Green Award Rabat, Morocco and Paris, France, November Off the coast of Central California, in the inky (December 1st, 2008) 24, 2008 - The Ministry of National Education, darkness of the deep sea, a bright orange BT has been named winner of the ‘Green Award’ Higher Education, Executives training and metal pyramid about the size of two compact at this year’s World Communication Awards Scientific Research of Morocco (MENESFCRS) cars sits quietly on the seafloor. Nestled within (WCA) in London. The ‘Green Award’ is a new and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris et NYSE: the metal pyramid is the heart of the Monterey addition to the high profile prizes awarded by the ALU) today announce the signature of a 7 Accelerated Research System [Read more] WCA, and aims to reward companies making cooperation agreement for a new educational program entitled “Dynamic Knowledge for (IDC) in Asia, located in Singapore. The super The awards, held at Capacity Europe 2008, Education.” Promoting [Read more] IDC, an expansion of AT&T’s existing facilities, recognize significant key market players who, will act as a regional gateway to the Internet through applying innovation and Arbinet Launches New Hong Kong IP Exchange and the AT&T network to deliver AT&T Synaptic [Read more] (November 23rd, 2008) HostingSM, its next-generation [Read more] Arbinet-thexchange, Inc. has announced that BT launches sustainable development index it has expanded its IP services with a new New science and congress center in for India (November 18th, 2008) Hong Kong IP Exchange. Arbinet’s Hong Kong Darmstadt, Germany to use Alcatel-Lucent’s Indian companies currently perform most location is operational and ready to connect voice and data solution delivered by T-Systems strongly for long-term economic growth and ISP sellers and buyers, the company said in a (November 23rd, 2008) most poorly in their management of water statement. Located at the MEGA-i Data Center, Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: resources TATA Group considered as top Arbinet’s new exchange provides customers in ALU) and its Alliance partner, T-Systems, have corporate leader in sustainable development BT Asia with [Read more] equipped the science and congress center in announced today the launch of its “Sustainable Darmstadt, Germany, with a complete end- Development Index - an assessment of business SEACOM Wins Awards to-end business communications solution. A performance in India”. The SD index has been (November 23rd, 2008) complete state-of-the-art, secure, integrated developed [Read more]­­ On the heels of the recently announced communications solution, including VoIP, groundbreaking of the project’s cable landing wireless LAN and VPN solutions will be provided stations sites in Mozambique and Kenya, the to the [Read more] SEACOM undersea cable project was the recipient of three awards at Monday night’s Tata Communications Awarded “Best Market 2008 Africa Investor Infrastructure Awards event Strategy” at the 2008 Capacity magazine held in Johannesburg, South Africa. SEACOM, Global Wholesale Telecommunications Awards its financier, Nedbank Capital and [Read more] (November 18th, 2008) Tata Communications, a leading provider of the AT&T Announces First Super Internet Data new world of communications, was honored Centre in Asia (November 23rd, 2008) with the “Best Market Strategy” award at the AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced it is Annual Capacity magazine Global Wholesale 8 opening the first super Internet Data Centre Telecommunications Awards in Amsterdam. Submarine Telecoms Forum is published bi- Readership monthly by WFN Strategies. The publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any 15000 form, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publishers. Submarine Telecoms Forum is an independent com­mercial publication, serving as a freely accessible forum for professionals in industries connected with submarine optical fibre technologies and techniques. Liability: while every care is taken in preparation 12000 of this publication, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any errors which may occur in advertising or editorial content, or any consequence arising from any errors or omissions. The publisher cannot be held responsible for any views expressed by contributors, and the editor reserves the right to edit any 9000 advertising or editorial material submitted for October November December publication. Contributions are welcomed. Please forward to the Managing Editor: September Wayne Nielsen August WFN Strategies 21495 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 201 Sterling, Virginia 20166 USA 6000 Tel: +[1] 703 444 2527 Email: [email protected]

General Advertising Email: [email protected] Tel: +[1] 703 444 0845

Designed and produced by Unity Business Solutions 3000

9 © WFN Strategies L.L.C., 2009 Visits The credit crisis may well result in more collaboration, with companies working together to share building costs. The Unity Project is an The New example of such a model - Bharti Airtel, Global Transit, Google, KDDI Corporation, Pacnet and SingTel are sharing the cost of building an Submarine undersea cable from Tokyo to Los Angeles.

After the collapse of the previous submarine Paradigm cable boom at the end of 2001, BuddeComm predicted a revival in this market before the end of the decade. The first signs began to appear in around 2004, coinciding with an increasing demand for bandwidth. We were reasonably confident in this prediction, as the submarine market is fairly predictable, due to its relatively By lengthy planning and building cycles. Paul Budde and Kylie Wansink There was actually nothing wrong with the concept behind the dotcom era, but, as is now being demonstrated in the subprime housing market, greed can take over in the financial sector and ruin things, for a time at least.

Dotcom was all about new applications that The demand for bandwidth continues the submarine cable sector continued would generate the next level of revenues for to steadily increase. Around the world, throughout 2008 with many cable the ICT industry. the Internet is becoming more and build-out announcements coming from The subscription-based model for telephony more important to both the economy around the world. Network upgrades and Internet services was approaching its and society. Web 2.0 services have were also on the agenda for some due-by date and new models were needed. also fuelled the demand for bandwidth existing systems. The dotcomers had the right vision at the time, as users embrace online video, music but the infrastructure needed to deliver those and voice. The impact of the global credit crisis applications was not available. And without the on the submarine cable sector in 2009 necessary national infrastructure the demand for international traffic declined, creating havoc In response, there have been more cannot yet be fully determined as many in the submarine telecoms market. announcements of proposed submarine current projects are already funded. cable system build-outs in recent years There are however many planned But then broadband infrastructure became than in any other time since the last projects still to be funded that may well more available and applications such as 10 boom of 1998-2001. This activity in suffer as a result. Google, YouTube, MySpace and FaceBook became overnight successes. Then, of course, to become a telco, but it is using its money developments around Google and PacNet are the demand for international networks returned and influence to steer the telco industry in the only the tip of the iceberg. Many more changes and by 2007 new submarine networks started direction it wants. And, as well as being good will follow and these will lead to a much to appear on the agenda. On the Pacific route, for Google, this will also be good for future healthier international telecoms environment for example, traffic is doubling every two telco applications developments. than we have seen in the past. years. The company is in the same position regarding However, by then the telecoms business the US spectrum auctions, in relation to Paul Budde is the managing model had changed and those involved in more competitive local access networks (eg director of BuddeComm, the new market didn’t wish to operate in the wireless). The telcos would like to maintain the a global independent international market in the same way the cosy status quo, with them being the gatekeepers t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s cartels had been doing for over one hundred and toll collectors. But this is stifling competition research and consultancy company. It operates a global and fifty (!) years. But changes are also arriving and innovation, and we need companies the network of 45 researchers in this market. For example, in relation to the size of Google, News Limited and Microsoft and consultants. The website proposed Unity Cable between Japan and to liberate us from the iron grip the incumbent (www.budde.com.au) has the US, consortium members like Pacnet are telcos presently have on this market. 1,700 research reports allowed to operate fibre pairs independently in covering 170 countries, 400 the system. Pacnet is one of the other players in the Unity companies and 200 technologies and applications. submarine consortium. This company is an The company operates what is believed to be the largest telecommunications research service on Companies like Google now depend for their international infrastructure operator, but it also the Internet and has over 3,000 customers in 80 revenue, and therefore their financial results, has a thriving ISP business and, like Google, different countries. on people having access to good quality the latter requires good and affordable access broadband, and that particular Internet media to advance along the lines mentioned above. Kylie Wansink is Senior company – now one of the largest companies Analyst, Global at on earth – has a great deal of clout. The Pacnet combination of being involved in BuddeComm, and has both international submarine networks and ISP been involved in corporate They are not at all interested in the old cartels; business makes sense from that perspective. research for more than they want competition and innovation that will Over the last few years they moved their ISP twelve years and has extensive experience in the result in low cost access to their applications. business away from the consumer market to telecommunications and Australia, in particular, is – due to a lack of the business market and in that move they IT sectors. Kylie is now competition in this market - suffering from have also become a major provider of IP- applying her skills to the relatively high international access charges. based solutions, serving the carrier market global portfolio of research Because the Internet is an international system as well as large enterprises and SMEs. for the BuddeComm organisation. The expansive the telcos and ISPs who deliver local access However in coming years they may have to suite of research reports provides a wide-ranging are faced with very high international access make a decision about which way to jump. insight into the worldwide telecom market and the key trends occurring across the industry. In bills, which they naturally pass on to their Once the submarine business has become particular, her work focuses on the emerging customers. This makes these services more commoditised again it is in the interest of the developments in Digital Media and Next Generation expensive in Australia than in markets where ISP arm to seek the best possible deal, even Telecoms. Prior to joining BuddeComm, Kylie was there is more competition. though that may not be achieved through its involved in business research work for various own internationals infrastructure business. management consulting companies and holds a With its participation in the Unity Cable, Google degree in Information Management. is set to become a strategic player in the The submarine telecoms industry is submarine business. It certainly doesn’t want undergoing a transformation, and the two new 11 scanpartner Trondheim Trondheim Foto: SPOT og Getty Images Getty og SPOT Foto:

arine dep ubm ths, t s Nex A ans goes deeper

Erik Rynning Sales & Project Manager Offshore: “We produced the so far world’s deepest umbilical which was installed at 2350 metre in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Nexans was the first to manufacture For further information please contact: Telecom: Oil & Gas: and install a 384 fibre submarine Nexans Norway AS Rolf Bøe Jon Seip P.O. Box 6450 Etterstad Phone: +47 22 88 62 23 Phone: +47 22 88 62 22 cable. Nexans has qualified and N-0605 Oslo Norway E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] installed their URC-1 cable family for Phone: +47 22 88 61 00 fibre counts up to 384 fibres. Fax: +47 22 88 61 01

Because so much of your performance runs through cables

Global expert in cables and cabling systems Few today will expect one network service provider Collaboration to cover the world alone. Telecommunications The catalyst for growth carriers today are tuning in to collaborative by Roland Lim strategies in order to drive continued growth of the industry through challenges of the global economy.

A quick glance at the current telecommunications landscape will reveal that the age where one global service provider can do it all is clearly etched in history. It is evident that the new business paradigm embraced by the telecommunications industry is that of partnership and collaboration.

Collaboration for growth David Reed, the American computer scientist and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alumni, who has been involved in the early development of the fundamental TCP/IP networking protocol, captured this shifting business paradigm in what is now known as Reed’s allow users to form groups, the utility of large networks, can scale exponentially with the size of the network.

The benefits of Reed’s law have certainly been embraced by today’s business leaders, including those involved in telecommunications and technology.

Findings from Frost & Sullivan’s recent CEO survey show that 58 percent of respondents acknowledged that forming “strategic partnerships” is a key strategy for success. Yet beyond simply acknowledging and recognizing this strategy, 54 percent of respondents noted that it was one of their top three strategies for future growth.

These CEOs were certainly not alone in their views on collaborating for growth.

According to an article entitled “Which kind of collaboration is right for you?” in the December 2008 edition of the Harvard Business Review, the authors, Gary P. Pisano and Roberto Verganti, said “no companies innovate alone” and acknowledged how a variety of companies have worked with partners to create new technologies, products and services. For example, they cited how technology giant IBM has successfully set up a number of consortia with other 13 reprinted with permission from the Q1 2009 issue of PacnetNews Magazine companies to develop next-generation semiconductor technologies. Against the backdrop of the current economic John Hibbard, a telecommunications industry Mr Hibbard added, “Today there are very few crisis, Manoj Menon, Managing Partner of consultant, pointed out that comparing cables owned by parties who are not carriers business growth consultancy Frost & Sullivan, consortia subsea cable projects back then and or service providers and who use the cable also stressed that “strategic partnerships are now, a key difference is in the constituents of for their own traffic as well as that of others. key” to a company’s growth strategy. the consortia. As a consequence, there is less fragility now as the cables are effectively infrastructure Subsea collaboration The idea of partnership “At the start of this decade, prompted by investments.” and collaboration to roll out new infrastructure enormous technological developments in might not be an entirely new concept in the photonics, many entrepreneurs, leveraging the Another observation pointed out by Mr Barney telecommunications industry as a look back to buoyancy of Wall Street, initiated submarine was that the rise of digital content was bringing history will yield the fact that many international cable projects,” he noted. “More often than not, about collaboration with new parties in subsea projects have been collaborative. such cables were owned by parties who were infrastructure rollouts. “With the growing not in the telecommunications, and frequently amount of digital content that we are seeing on Yet, in the subsea cable industry, many of the from the finance industry. This meant that they our networks, it doesn’t come as a surprise that cables built at the start of the decade were were not a source of traffic, and these projects the digital content giants are looking for bigger, owned by standalone companies. were seen as a potential for profit rather than faster pipes,” he said. the provision of infrastructure.“ Bill Barney, Chief Executive Officer of Pacnet, said, “If you look back at the subsea cable investments during the heady days of telecoms from 1998 to 2001, you could easily find more than 10 cable projects that cost more than $1 billion each, which were funded by single, standalone companies.”

Having presided over Asia Global Crossing, one of Asia’s Chapter 11 casualties from the telecom fallout at the start of the decade, Mr Barney noted that there is a stark difference in today’s subsea cable investments. “Subsea cable projects today are definitely more collaborative and rational. Just look at the $7 billion or so that is being spent on new cable projects in the coming three years and you will see that almost all of them are being built by consortia with three or more partners.”

Earlier in 2008, Pacnet, together with Google, Bharti Airtel, Global Transit Ltd., KDDI, and SingTel, announced that they were partnering to build Unity, a new $300 million trans-Pacific subsea cable connecting Chikura, Japan to the west coast of US. Pacnet CEO Bill Barney 14 Citing the example of the Unity cable project, “While we own the EAC-C2C subsea cable collaborated with MessageLabs, a recognized which has Google as a partner, Mr Barney infrastructure that provides connectivity to leader in messaging security to provide our noted, “We expect to see greater interest major cities in South-east and East Asia, we are customers with a comprehensive approach from digital content providers, especially those able to connect our customers almost anywhere to email, content and IM security,” said Mr which deliver a lot of digital video content, in in the world – from Paris to South Africa to New Kwan. “And more recently, we partnered Arbor collaborative infrastructure projects.” York – by collaborating with carrier partners Networks to offer a distributed denial of service globally and delivering traffic through NNI (DDoS) mitigation solution for our IP transit Diversity and reach interconnections,” said Mr Kwan. “Likewise, and Internet services customers.” In the face of recent natural disasters such as carriers from other parts of the world partner the earthquakes in January 2008 that caused with us to leverage EAC-C2C in reaching key “It is important that we partner with leaders damage to subsea cables that interrupted countries across Asia.” in the field so we can guarantee that our Internet connectivity in the Middle East and customers receive industry-leading products India, the need for network diversity and Beyond infrastructure and solutions,” Mr Kwan added. redundancy has again been highlighted. Beyond building new subsea cable infrastructure, carriers and service providers are taking Looking ahead Referring to the Taiwan earthquake at the end partnerships to a whole new level by rolling out Collaboration is certainly not a strategy that of 2006 which damaged most of the region’s new services made possible by collaboration. could be force fed. “Collaboration only works subsea cables, Wilfred Kwan, Chief Technology effectively when there is win-win outcome for Officer of Pacnet, commented that through the “Few carriers now try to do it all on their the collaborators. Unless fairness and equity incident – one which the company’s EAC cable own. They are realizing that by collaborating exist, more energy will be spent on managing fortunately survived – the focus has shifted with technology partners, they are able to relationships to the detriment of the project. towards supporting other carriers in routing roll out new services that offer state-of-theart Collaborators must want to join willingly rather traffic to minimize economic impact on the technology and bring them to market faster than have them join grudgingly because they region, thus the need for improving network than they would be able to do alone,” said Mr see no other alternative,” advised Mr Hibbard. redundancy has never been more pertinent in Kwan. the industry. But given the frequency of announcements of He cited Pacnet’s Managed Application new partnerships in telecommunications and “With the increasing importance of subsea Acceleration Service as one of the examples technology, collaboration appears to continue infrastructure to modern-day commerce, of collaborating with best-of-breed partners unabated, regardless of the economic climate. enterprises are also realizing the huge impact to rapidly roll out industry-leading services. that network incidents may have on their “By deploying Riverbed’s application “The possibilities for collaboration are truly returns,” said Mr Kwan. acceleration devices across our high-speed limitless and we certainly expect to see new network, customers can immediately enjoy partnerships within the carrier industry, as well According to a Gartner study, it was estimated the advantages of state-of-the-art application as new collaborative efforts beyond this space that the hourly cost of network downtime for acceleration appliances across our network, in the coming year,” added Mr Barney. large corporations was $42,000. With a typical without worrying about compatibility and business experiencing an average of 87 hours configuration issues. I believe we are the first of downtime a year, this results in a total loss service provider in Asia Pacific to partner with exceeding $3.6 million a year. Riverbed to roll out this leading edge application across the region,” he said. Roland Lim is Senior Manager, Marketing and As a result, carriers have been busy carving Communications at PACNET. out collaborative partnerships through Network Security is another strategic area in Pacnet’s to Network Interface (NNI) interconnections product development roadmap, where a to extend the reach and reliability of their collaborative strategy has been embraced. 15 networks. “To deliver our latest security offerings, we Introducing Subsea Communications! By Anne LeBoutillier •• Emerging markets such as oil & gas, and the potential for subsea and satellite communications to provide key transmission solutions to you, the industry leaders, a high value, •• New subsea cable builds, installation and business generating, fun, entertaining and maintenance initiatives, new technologies thoroughly insightful conference!

I would also like to extend my thanks to those of It is also my intention is to introduce a segment you who have contacted me with support on network optimization, which has become a for this new event. The level of key issue for service providers, and I believe enthusiasm that I have seen for will become a focus for large-scale enterprises the Subsea Communications as time goes on. Is this a risk or an opportunity Conference (and its location for the subsea infrastructure? I hope you’ll find at The Venetian Resort & Casino the topic worthy of discussion. Greetings in Macau, PRC) has been remarkable. I’ll all! Many of provide you a few statistics below that have A couple of people requested topics relating been indicative of the sort of interest and to human resources and people management, you will have already enthusiasm I’ve received a bit later in this which I have felt for years is or will be a critical heard from me about the article. issue in the subsea communications industry, where we tend to have highly specialized roles new Subsea Communications On the Conference Content side: We received with little attrition, resulting in the potential for Conference that I am a fantastic number of responses to an online a talent gap in just a few short years. (Not to suggest any of us is aging, but realistically, have introducing with the support survey that my team put together – my thanks to all of you who provided your thoughts! There we done a good job of training replacements for of Questex and on behalf of is general consensus on a few key topics such our specialized knowledge base?) I’m in the process of working with a talent management the industry. I wanted to take as: •• Demand for capacity and drivers of global firm to pull together an enlightening and high a few moments to provide you infrastructure/bandwidth usage, traffic energy session on succession planning in a some updates on the event. forecasting, video/data traffic growth highly specialized industry. •• Supply and pricing of networks, capacity, Finally, I’ve had a couple of requests for First of all, I should once again express my bandwidth, and competitive considerations a session on the environmental impact of appreciation to the industry members who have where multiple systems exist telecommunications, which in theory I love. personally approached me and requested that •• Backhaul, city pops and co-location, Unfortunately, the only environmental steps I introduce and manage a new event that is and the ability of subsea and wireless that I’m seeing taken (other than the well specifically representative of industry interests technologies to work together to maximize established shore end installation and cable and concerns. As many of you know, I have a effect and minimize cost laying initiatives) is a reduction in power and passion for solid conference content, exciting cooling among some telecom service providers. •• The global financial distress and its effect speakers, and memorable networking/social If there are any slightly more exciting initiatives on subsea communications projects and events. It is absolutely my intention to bring out there that you know of, please alert me 16 the telecom market in general and I’ll do my best to fit something into the hotel rate for 2 nights at US$300, which Questex Media conference programme! is payable as part of your delegate fee (in Group, Inc. is a global, recognition that some of your travel budgets diversified business- Finally, I promised a quick review of statistics. have been reduced for 2009). I’m hopeful that to-business integrated The introductory email about the Subsea you’ll be intrigued by both conference content media and information Communications Conference was sent to and very reasonable pricing, and consider provider, headquartered 25,000 very targeted representatives of signing up early! in Newton, MA. Questex the subsea, service provider, oil & gas and serves multiple industries investor industries. The “open rate” of the Thanks so much for your time. Wayne has been including technology, email campaign among the subsea community fantastic in offering me some space to provide telecommunications, beauty, spa, travel, was the highest at well over 50% on average. you updates on the Subsea Communications hospitality, leisure, abilities, home (Note: The average “email open” rate for an Conference in following issues, and it will be entertainment, landscape design, building electronic Direct Mail campaign is 11.80%, so my pleasure to keep you all informed. If this services and natural resources through a 50% is a very solid rate of return and suggests article has generated some ideas that you’d range of well-established, market-leading a high degree of interest in the conference, like to share please feel free to contact me publications, events, interactive media, at least conceptually.) The service provider directly at [email protected]. research, information and integrated marketing list opened the email at a rate of 30% (this services. The company’s media properties included a portion of the GTM ’08 list, so I hope to see you this May in Macau! include over 100 print and digital media should be relatively indicative of that group, publications, 45 conferences, tradeshows and which I know is a focus point for many of events, as well as a range of research, data you). The investor group opened the email at and information products. a rate of over 40%, which was a surprise to me, and suggests a solid level of interest in Questex Asia is the Asia-Pacific arm of the telecom sector. (Note: This is a targeted Questex Media, and has managed some of the list of investors who have at some point in the regions’ most established telecommunications past held or considered telecom investments.) publications and enterprise-oriented technology The Oil & Gas group was the lowest – I clearly events. Questex Asia’s publication Telecom have some work to do to ensure our emerging Asia provides key decision-makers across all market representatives participate in the sectors of the Asian telecom industry, including conference, but even at 17.5% they came managers and professionals of service out above the average open rate for an email providers and enterprise users of telecom Direct Marketing campaign. services, with authoritative and independent news, context and analysis in a timely and We’re very excited to be bringing this relevant manner including print and electronic conference to the industry, and I want to point delivery. out that the Early Bird special pricing offers a significant discount at US$1359 – a price level you won’t find at other telecom events firms for a conference of this level, and another indication of Questex’ very generous support 17 of this event. We’re also offering a subsidized Brought to you by: Announcing the Industry Conference of the Year. Subsea Communications is a conference about the Supply, Demand, Price and Profit of undersea fiber optic telecom infrastructure. The conference is unique in its in-depth review of market demand and demand Media Supporters: drivers for global telecom capacity, made possible by subsea infrastructure.

Date: 6-8 May 2009

Venue: The Venetian Hotel & Casino Macau, Republic of China

For more information visit: www.subseacommunications.com 18 Contact Anne Dellos LeBoutillier, Email: [email protected] Ph: +65-6395-4586 application” that would rapidly gobble up all this capacity.

In the Pacific, much of the unlit capacity remains, although some dark fibers have been lit and some upgrades have been implemented; however, Asia and the Pacific led the way in the resurgence of the submarine telecommunications industry; in fact, as an Asia Pacific based company strongly focused on the submarine cable industry, it was with some relief that new projects continued to be built even through the worst of the slump. Of course, many of these projects were comparatively small domestic or intraregional systems measured in hundreds rather than thousands of kilometers in length, so The Future’s Bright, the Future’s……. hardly testing the production capacity of the major suppliers. During this period, some significant systems were built such as In Asia and the Pacific i2i and the Tata Indicom, system (TIC) both linking Singapore to India, and of course By Graham Evans SEA ME WE 4 in 2004 which although an Asia to Europe system, had significant Asian influence driving it forward. When the wheels fell off the submarine discussions year after year at such august cable industry in 2001, the interminable events as PTC and SubOptic amidst ever 2006 saw the real beginning of the “boom” post mortems that were conducted in decreasing audiences as round after round we are currently experiencing, and this the press and at conferences repeatedly of retrenchments took their toll. At the same boom was centered fairly and squarely pointed to the massive overbuild of long time we were being repeatedly told that on the Asian and Pacific Regions. The haul system capacity, citing terabits of unlit the hangover we were suffering resulted current round of activity started with the capacity, dark fibers and future upgrades from over indulgence that had been made Gondwana, Australia to New Caledonia as reasons why we could be waiting many possible by the combination of deregulation, system incorporating new generation years before new long haul systems would easy money and unsustainable or simply “skinny route” technology; Telstra’s be built (a fact that continues to be borne bad business models, not to mention the Australia to Hawaii system was rolled out out in the Atlantic). How many of us often vaunted belief that we were on the about the same time and not one but four trans Pacific systems were announced; 19 sat through the depressing round table cusp of the somewhat nebulous “killer Trans Pacific Express (TPE); Asia American Gateway (AAG); FLAG’s Eagle, Next Generation Network and the Google driven Pacific Ocean with Planned Cable Systems Unity system. Of these four, TPE is in service, AAG is nearing completion, Unity has been surveyed and will be installed in 2009, and the FLAG Eagle system has been postponed.

In the Central and South Pacific, the Honotua cable system currently under construction uses thin route technology and will provide domestic connections between French Polynesian islands to Papeete on the main island of Tahiti and on to Hawaii. Pipe Network’s PPC-1 Cable System is also under construction and will be installed in 2009; PPC-1 will connect Guam, Madang in PNG

and Sydney, Australia. PPC-1 offers further expansion possibilities SJC with a second Australian landing in Brisbane and second PNG SJC Option APCN3 landing at Popondetta. A branching unit off Sydney also provides FLAG Eagle PIPE potential expansion to New Zealand with PPC-2 and/or Optikor Honotua (see below). SPIN ASH In the Western Pacific, East and South East Asia a number of intraregional systems have or are being constructed including the East Asian segments of TPE connecting the PRC with Korea Pacific Ocean with As Laid Cable Systems and Taiwan; AAG which lands in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Tata Communications have linked their TGN Pacific system to the TIC Singapore landing with their Intra Asia System linking India via Singapore to Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and the Philippines, with branching unit expansion possibilities into the PRC, Taiwan and Thailand. Indonesia has seen new domestic systems built linking islands within the Indonesian archipelago, with some extending to Singapore including Matrix, Jakasusi, Jakabare and Batam Singapore. The North and Eastern Pacific has also seen new builds with the Alaskan Communications SPANDEX system, and the NEPTUNE subsea observatory. AAG The Pacific has also seen the innovative and cost effective re use of TPETPE Tata Communication Intra Asia existing cable systems with the recovery of part of Pac Rim West Unity North and re lay into Port Moresby, PNG, thus creating APNG2 the first GONDWANA-1 & PICOT-1 Australia-Hawaii fiber optic connection between Australia and Papua New Guinea; TGN Pacific 20 whilst further east, the recovery of a section of Pac Rim East has provided Western and US Samoa with a fiber optic connection to Australia & Pacific with Planned Cable Systems Hawaii, creating the ASH system. In both these cases, although the cable systems that were reused represent pre DWDM fiber optic technology, each has at least 12 to 15 years of design live left and will provide these communities with adequate capacity for the remainder of the systems life.

With the considerable investment that has already been made in the Pacific, East and South East Asia, and the current global financial mayhem that dominates the news media; what submarine cable systems are we likely to see in the region going forward? What we have seen in parallel with the investment in the Pacific is the migration of activity to and beyond the Indian subcontinent to East SJC Africa and India Ocean, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and SJC Option Europe, as well as new projects being announced for West Africa. APCN3 PIPE Is the submarine telecom boom bubble therefore drifting away Honotua from Asia and the Pacific; is it simply growing to cover more of the SPIN ASH planet; or, is it about to burst along with the world economy?

What this observer can see, albeit as a simple geoscientist, is that new systems are still being announced for the Asia and the Pacific Australia & Pacific with As Laid Cable Systems region. Bidding activity has not noticeably declined and the initiators of requests for ROM budgets for projects in the region seem to be alive and well.

The supply contract for South East Asia Japan (SJC) seems at the time of writing about to be signed. This pan Asian system has landing sites in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan; the system has additional optional segments to Vietnam and Guam. Installation is expected in 2010.

A so far weak echo on the radar scope is APCN-3; with ROM budget prices having been sought; however, when will the region AAG

be able to justify another pan Asian system with a footprint not TPETPE dissimilar to SJC and the Tata Communications Intra Asia system, Tata Communication Intra Asia not to mention the South East Asian segments of AAG? The APCN- GONDWANA-1 & PICOT-1 Australia-Hawaii

3 configuration resembles that of its predecessors with landings TGN Pacific 21 in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, two landings in the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. Inset for Honotua

Elsewhere in South East Asia, Indonesian operators continue to plan additional inter island domestic links with the Palapa project being the most ambitious with the configuration comprising up to 24 submarine cable links. Matrix have been considering extending their system from Indonesia to Australia and Ochre Networks have been planning a system from Singapore to Australia which will also land in Indonesia.

An interesting project that at the time of writing is being tendered is the South Pacific Island Network or SPIN. Conceptually this system seems to fit the skinny route philosophy used on Honotua and Gondwana in that with the small populations of the island communities that the system will service, capacity is not an issue; rather, the system will offer the potential of broadband

connectivity to these small populations who currently depend Honotua on satellite communications. The SPIN system if implemented is configured with a trunk connecting Noumea, New Caledonia with Papeete, Tahiti in French Polynesia with branches to Inset for ASH Norfolk Island, Vanuatu, Fiji, Mata Utu, Western and US Samoa, Alofi and Rarotonga. Other optional segments include landing in Honiara, and Tonga. Work on this project is expected to start in 2009 with installation in 2010.

Two Trans Tasman Sea projects from Australia to New Zealand are in various stages of planning, namely the proposed Optikor cable that may connect via Pipe Networks PPC-1 BU1 into Sydney or alternatively a direct point to point cable landing directly in Australia. The second Trans Tasman system is Telstra’s Tasman 3 cable that has been under discussion for some time. 2009 is when work on either or both of these systems is currently scheduled to commence.

Although, positive comments were made by Reliance at Submarine Networks World in Singapore in August 2008 with

respect to the planned implementation of the FLAG NGN ASH 22 system in Asia and across the Pacific; at the time of writing, there appears to have been no further encouraged by to adapt engineering geoscience movement on either the Trans Pacific South East Asia with procedures that Graham had developed for dredging Eagle or Asian segments. Another Planned Cable Systems investigations, to the requirements of the submarine Trans Pacific cable that was initially telecommunications industry, in particular in the field of burial assessment. Since that time, he has planned in 2007 is TPE Phase 2 that will become an enthusiastic and dedicated participant offer a second “express” route to China; in the submarine telecommunications community Phase 2A is already being implemented becoming known throughout the industry for his which will connect Chikura, Japan to a knowledge in the application of cross discipline new branching unit in the Phase 1 cable geoscience techniques and procedures, and as off southern Japan. a regular speaker on his specialist topics at international conferences worldwide. In conclusion, The Asia and Pacific regions led the way during the current Graham joined EGS in 1978 leaving in 1990 boom in our industry, and whilst the on what he describes as his 6 year sabbatical level of activity has extended well to join as one of the first three employees of the beyond these regions, encouraging embryonic Fugro Survey where he played a key part in developing that company’s submarine cable signs are there that activity will continue SJC APCN3 business. In 1996, he rejoined EGS where he set at least over the next year or so; having FLAG Eagle about to build EGS into a world leader dedicated said that; as the author is far from being to the provision of cable route planning and survey an economic clairvoyant there must services. Graham is currently a member of the remain some questions on what impact South East Asia with As SubOptic Executive Committee, and Vice Chair of the current global economic woes may Laid Cable Systems the SubOptic 2010 Program Committee. have as we move into 2009. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from the University of Manchester, and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Earth and Environmental With more than 30 years Sciences from the Open University. experience as a marine geologist and applied Graham is married, and wife Linda has on occasion geophysicist, Graham has been heard to ruefully refer to his other marriage to the dual role of Business EGS. Outside of the work environment, Graham is Development Director for a keen but very bad golfer being consistently beaten the EGS Survey Group by his wife, he is an aviation bore having been a of companies worldwide private pilot for many years; he is a very keen (EGS), and as a Board power walker and recently was asked by someone

Director and co-founder of EGS Survey in Perth, AAG less than half his age to reduce his pace; and he is a Australia. TPETPE music enthusiast, having a somewhat eclectic taste Tata Communication Intra Asia but which is firmly founded in the classics. Unity North

Graham began specialising in submarine cable TGN Pacific 23 route planning and survey in 1990 after being

Submarine telecom systems transmit data from shore real time data delivery, instantaneous command to shore. They achieve their high levels of reliability by and control, and continuous long term observation minimizing the amount and complexity of equipment goes far beyond the capabilities of conventional in the water. How, then, to maintain high reliability oceanography. NEPTUNE Canada will also provide in a system that transmits data from the seabed to an outreach function for the science of Oceanography shore? That is the challenge that faces the NEPTUNE by delivering real time video, still photographs and Canada project team at the University of Victoria data to schools, universities, policy-makers, and the (UVic), British Columbia, and its contractor, Alcatel- public throughout the world. Lucent Submarine Networks (ALSN). Major research themes for NEPTUNE Canada are The NEPTUNE Canada Cabled Ocean Observatory plate tectonics, seabed fluid dynamics including gas System is an underwater cable system built hydrate formation, ocean climate change, marine specifically to support scientific research. For biology, and deep sea ecosystems. Initially, two sites the first time, NEPTUNE will enable collection of on the continental slope and two sites in deep water oceanographic, seismic, climate, and ecosystem have been selected for connection to NEPTUNE data from deep under the ocean continuously in real Canada. The shelf slope sites are Folger Passage, time, over its planned service life of twenty five years. Barkley Canyon, a site of upwelling that is rich in ocean NEPTUNE Canada is the first part of a joint Canada life, and includes exposed layers of gas hydrates, and - US effort to provide access to the entire Juan de Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) borehole 889, where Fuca tectonic plate, an area of over 200 000 km2 there are several existing drill holes and proximity off the coasts of British Columbia, Washington, and to gas hydrate mounds. The deep water sites are Oregon. UVic leads a consortium of twelve Canadian ODP 1027, a drill hole site in the middle of the plate universities responsible for implementation and adjacent to two sea mounts; and the Endeavour operation of NEPTUNE Canada with funding provided Ridge, the site of numerous “black smokers” which by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and British emit seawater heated to 375°C and which support a Columbia Knowledge Development Fund. Funding for food chain based on sulfide consuming bacteria and U.S. network is being sought from the US National Archea, believed to be among the oldest forms of life Science Foundation. on Earth. Additional nodes and sensors will be added as funding and resources permit. NEPTUNE Canada represents a fundamental step forward for the science of Oceanography. To achieve these ambitious goals, a network Oceanographers have traditionally relied on ships, infrastructure incorporating many novel design buoys, or deep water moorings to collect data. Ships elements is required. The NEPTUNE network can remain on station for only a limited time within a infrastructure consists of a conventional submarine narrow weather window, while buoys and moorings cable and repeaters configured in an 800 km loop have limited electrical power and data bandwidth, as with both ends terminated in the former TPC-4 cable well as limited reliability. Out of commission telecom and station at Port Alberni, which has been purchased by military cables have been used for scientific research, UVic. A series of underwater nodes are connected to but these may not be in ideal locations and also have the backbone cable by means of branching units. power or bandwidth limitations. Cabled observatories have been built off the coast of Japan to support a Branching units will be deployed for all the initial sites seismic network; however these observatories have when the backbone cable is laid. Observatory nodes been unable to offer users the power required for can be deployed immediately or added at a later The NEPTUNE Canada a wide range of their instruments and experiments. stage. The branching units provide power switching for Several “near-shore” single site observatories located control and fault isolation. Optical signals are directed Cabled Ocean a few tens of kilometers off shore have been built and to and from each node using a distributed DWDM operated successfully; NEPTUNE Canada will stretch scheme. The use of repeaters and DWDM allows a Observatory System this limit to multiple sites and hundreds of kilometers. single fiber pair to serve all node locations. The node itself consists of a large frame with two underwater NEPTUNE Canada’s ability to provide access to the housings: one containing a power converter and the deep ocean environment, frequent data collection, other containing the communications equipment. Two 25 protected Gigabit Ethernet channels are provided Instruments will be deployed on the seabed, within Reliability has been an overriding goal throughout the between each node and the shore station. NEPTUNE sea floor boreholes and buoyed up through the design process and there are many network features relies on Ethernet and TCP/IP for communications water column at particular locations. As might be that address reliability. First, the network forms a between instruments and a shore based Data expected, a system such as NEPTUNE with many ring, so every node has two paths to shore. All node Management and Archive System (DMAS). Precision stakeholders to satisfy and a limited budget can also components have at least 1:1 redundancy. The power timing is transmitted to the instruments using the IEEE be challenging to specify, design, and project manage. converter consists of a stack of building block units 1588 Precision Time Protocol. UVic, recognizing its lack of experience in this field, which provide multiple levels of redundancy. Single went outside academia and hired key elements of points of failure, such as repeaters and branching This network infrastructure represents a paradigm its project team from industry. Despite building on units, are built to the levels of reliability established shift for submarine cable technology by providing existing experience, the process of defining realistic for commercial telecom cable systems. In spite of communications to the seabed rather than just purchaser’s requirements has stretched over several the reliability and redundancy, many of the node across it. At each subsea node location, the optical years, with the project team working iteratively between components are Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) line is terminated and Ethernet switches distribute the scientific communities in Canada and potential and failures are inevitable. communications to the scientific instruments or to suppliers. The supplier selection process was to extension cables. This means that terminal equipment first qualify potential suppliers, and then to distribute When failures occur, the node housings can be normally housed in an environmentally controlled for comment a complete draft Request for Proposal detached from the base frame and floated to the cable station must be adapted for use in underwater package before (re)writing and issuing the final RFP. surface by an ROV. Syntactic foam ensures neutral housings. The use of a repeatered solution allows This process ensured the user’s requirements were buoyancy. The node can be immediately replaced conventional 2.5 Gb/s transponders to be used while realistic, within the suppliers’ ability to deliver, and with a spare, or refurbished and redeployed later. still reaching locations that may be several hundred within budget. The evaluation and selection process While it sounds counterintuitive, computer modeling kilometers from shore. then took almost twelve months, culminating with shows the best maintenance strategy is to wait for a an award to ALSN in October 2005. The design, Designs using long spans and full regeneration at the prototyping, and demonstration phases will take a underwater nodes were also considered and may be further twelve months. Cable laying operations are VPS Undergoing Testing used in the future depending on the desired system scheduled for summer of 2007, at which time a set at NGK’s Facility, Saitama, Japan configuration. Along with data to and from the seabed, of test instruments will be deployed. Finally, the main NEPTUNE can deliver up to 100 kW of electrical power scientific instruments will be deployed and connected for operation of communications equipment, sensors, to the network during the summer of 2009. cameras, lights, and potentially remotely operated vehicles. This level of power delivery is made possible In addition to all the usual challenges of permitting, by increasing the line current from around 1 ampere coordination with other seabed users and supplier in a typical telecom system to as much as 8 amperes management, NEPTUNE has several unique while maintaining a voltage of 10kV on each shore concerns. The nature of the scientific sites means end. At each node, a custom built DC-DC voltage the seabed installation is, to say the least, complex. converter accepts an input voltage from 5 to 10 kV Deployment of the nodes and instruments will require and provides a 400 V, 10 kW output. ROV operations. Instruments have to be adapted, or designed from scratch, to work on a cabled Seawater provides the return path from each node to network rather than batteries. A data management the shore station. Since each node provides a load and archiving system has to be designed to handle between the cable and seawater, the loads seen by the unprecedented amounts of oceanographic data. the power feed are in parallel, rather than in series The operations and maintenance phase will include as in a conventional repeatered system. The 400V annual cruises to repair and replace instruments as intermediate voltage is used for distribution of power well as on-demand cable ship repairs when failures to the instruments. occur in the network infrastructure.

At each primary node, a series of up to six secondary And, because NEPTUNE has the potential to collect Junction Boxes (JBs) are connected by means sensitive acoustic data, national security has become of underwater mateable connectors. Scientific matter of some importance, requiring dialogue with instruments are connected in turn to the JBs. The JB the Canadian and US navies. adapts the communications interfaces used individual instruments to Ethernet and also allows control of the 26 power supply to each instrument. complete failure (i.e. both redundant components have failed) before undertaking a repair. Because of the down-time involved in making a repair, proactively replacing failed units actually results in more unavailable time than waiting for a failure, even though a longer outage will be experienced when a complete failure occurs.

Overall network availability is expected to be in the range of 96% to 97%, which is surprisingly good considering that a node repair may take weeks or months. One of the exciting aspects of NEPTUNE is the potential to utilize the technology NEPTUNE Canada Update in other applications. The availability of broadband communications and generous amounts of power By Chris Barnes, Steve Lentz, and Peter Phibbs at locations hundreds of kilometers from shore opens up many new possibilities for both scientific research and for equipment development and qualification. 2008 saw continuing efforts to develop and qualify the month long accelerated aging tests. The need to power delivery subsystem. Setbacks can be expected resolve these technical challenges led to a mutual Communications systems for remote monitoring in the development of new underwater devices decision on the part of NEPTUNE Canada and its and control of well heads, continuous seismic such as NEPTUNE Canada’s 10kV equipment, and prime contractor, Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks, monitoring of oil fields, and communications to the setbacks experienced in 2008, while relatively to postpone installation. high risk work areas are some of the areas in modest in nature, have resulted in a decision to which NEPTUNE Canada technology could be defer deployment of the nodes, junction boxes and 2008 saw successful progress on a number of fronts. used, and in which NEPTUNE Canada could be instruments until summer 2009. (The backbone All the terminal equipment and power feed equipment used as an equipment proving ground. Military cable, repeaters, and branching units were installed has been delivered and installed. The Junction Boxes and port security applications are also possible; in 2007.) Ships are now being secured for the (JBs), which provide an intermediate connection use of an off-the-shelf solution which can support deployment of five primary nodes, along with fourteen point between up to ten individual instruments hydrophone arrays and other sensors would junction boxes and as many as 130 instruments, and the primary nodes, have been designed and reduce or eliminate development effort for new during the summer of 2009. This installation program manufactured by Oceanworks, Inc. of Vancouver, sensor networks. Given NEPTUNE Canada’s will require two vessels, a stern working cable ship Canada. Successful integration tests between the position as a research facility, it is likely some and a research vessel. The ROPOS ROV, operated JBs and primary nodes were completed in July of of these new concepts and applications will by the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility, will 2008 and the first JB was deployed on the VENUS be tested on NEPTUNE Canada itself before be a vital participant in the deployment activities. observatory in December. Fabrication and assembly deployment elsewhere. Can UVic successfully of the primary nodes by Alcatel-Lucent Submarine complete this demanding project? All the key The readiness of two key components led to the Networks with the support of its subcontractors L3 pieces are in place: an experienced project decision to defer deployment to 2009. The Medium Maripro and Texel is progressing well. The Vertical team, an industry-leading supplier, support from Voltage Converter (MVC), which converts backbone Profiling System (VPS), which consists of a base the academic community and funding agencies, cable voltages of 6 to 10kV to a working level of 400V, platform and a float containing science instruments and realistic objectives. However, it is too soon and the connector which delivers 10kV DC to the node which can be raised and lowered through the water to celebrate; much work lies ahead. UVic and have required further design effort and qualification column, has been manufactured by NGK of Japan Alcatel are committed to delivery of a working testing. Prototypes of the MVC have been tested and delivered to Victoria BC. In addition, transitional system by 2009. If NEPTUNE Canada achieves and shown to meet all primary design requirements; operational funding was secured from the Natural the goals it has set for itself, it will open up both however, additional testing has revealed some Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada a new realm of Oceanography and new markets concerns as to the reaction of the MVC to faults (NSERC), the Canada Foundation for Innovation for the submarine cable industry. New challenges elsewhere in the system. These concerns have led to (CFI), and the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced and new ways of thinking can provide a much some minor redesign and, of course, a repeat of most Education. needed boost to both morale and the bottom line. of the time consuming qualification tests. Similarly, the 10kV connector has been successfully tested, but NEPTUNE Canada is an exciting and innovative project concerns about design margin and operational life which demonstrates how commercial submarine 27 have led to some rework and a restart of the three telecom technologies can be adapted for other uses. The science data it makes possible is going specifications for international submarine cable the University of Durham, UK, to allow us to see and hopefully understand better networks and supervised testing, commissioning, he practiced engineering as a how the oceans systems work, and how they affect and verification of compliance with contractual designer of marine structures both marine and land-based life. NEPTUNE Canada requirements. He was Manager of Transmission in the UK, the Middle East offers a platform for testing future technologies in real Engineering for Time Telekom, Sdn. Bhd. located and then in Vancouver, British life situations in the deep ocean – and lets developers in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, and Director of Systems Columbia. He became a watch and operate their new technology from their Engineering for Lightwave Spectrum, Inc. He joined member of the Institution of desks in Houston, Aberdeen, Perth or anywhere with WFN Strategies in 2005 as Project Manager, and has Civil Engineers in 1978, and an internet connection. Next year promises to be supported telecom projects in Oklahoma, Antarctica, a member of the Professional even more eventful as the nodes, junction boxes and West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. Engineers of British Columbia instruments are finally installed. NEPTUNE Canada in 1981. In 1986 he began looks forward to sharing our news and seeking your Peter Phibbs is Associate Director, Engineering and specializing in underwater construction, managing participation in the program as it evolves. Operations for NEPTUNE Canada. An engineer construction and maintenance projects at variety of with construction in the marine environment, Peter sites in North America and around the world. has a wide range of experience in managing the Chris Barnes is Project Director implementation of complex deepwater projects. After for NEPTUNE Canada. After completing his B.Sc. in Engineering Science from being awarded his Bachelor of Science from the University of Birmingham (1961) and his Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa (1964), he received an academic appointment at the University of Waterloo in 1965. He served as Chair of Earth Sciences at Waterloo from 1975 to 1981. In a similar position at Memorial University (1981-87), he established the Centre of Earth Resources Research. From 1987-1989, as Director General, Sedimentary and Marine Branch, Geological Survey of Canada, he was responsible for the offshore Frontier Geoscience Program. At the University of Victoria, Chris was Director of both the Centre of Earth and Ocean Research (1989-2000) and the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences (1991- 2002, then becoming the NEPTUNE Canada Project Director in 2002.

Steve Lentz has over fifteen years experience in the construction and operation of optical communications networks including metropolitan area networks, national networks, and international submarine cable networks. He has served as VP Network Engineering and Deployment for 360networks’ submarine division where he developed the network architecture, functional requirements, and performance 28 consequence of the number of islands to be joined and seas to be crossed. But more importantly, it has anticipated a massive future demand for bandwidth between the major Asian centres and between Asia and the rest of the world. And that will only be satisfied by undersea cables. While operators were re- writing their business plans as a consequence of the earlier slowdown that had occurred, it had nevertheless been self-evident that optical fibre submarine cabling would continue to play a major role in telecom infrastructure development in the Asia-Pacific region.

The general perception of a glut in bandwidth capacity on Asia-Pacific routes also caused some confusion in the market. It was certainly true that investment in submarine cables was no longer bringing the rapid returns it once did. Companies were finding it increasingly difficult to raise capital for undersea cable ventures as Spotlight on Asia Pacific a consequence. At the same time, customers of undersea cable operators were finding it difficult By Peter Evans at times to get enough capacity on Asia-Pacific undersea routes. Consequently operators built the largest possible cables to meet demand and gain a cost advantage over competitors. For some years, the area of telecommunications sector. The depressed market persisted even A combination of sluggish global and regional infrastructure most in trouble across the as prices continued to fall. The situation finally economies conditions, the perception of over- Asia-Pacific region has been the struggling started to change in 2006, when a series of capacity on some routes, and questions about submarine cable business. In the late 1990s, new submarine infrastructure projects for the the level of return on investment inevitably saw companies such as Level 3, Asia Global Asia-Pacific region were announced. There a slowdown in the construction of submarine Crossing and FLAG Telecom constructed a were all the signs of recovery in the market cables in the region. massive amount of capacity with billions of with a significant increase in business activity dollars in investments, only to find weakening occurring over the 2007/08 period. The oversupply of submarine cable capacity demand and declining bandwidth prices. in the region has been in the intra-regional It is estimated that Asia has been the recipient networks rather than in the large regional The market moved into crisis in 2001 and of about one third of the worldwide investment and trans-Pacific cables. A significant number 29 major restructuring began to occur within the in submarine cabling. This has been a natural of new intra-regional cables have come into service over the last few years. These included in Telstra’s case, an adjustment of US$546 Major submarine cables FNAL (FLAG North Asian Loop), EAC (East million meant that the value of its stake in in the Asia-Pacific region - 2008 Asia Crossing), APCN 2 and C2C, resulting in Reach had been reduced to zero. around 16Tb/s of extra capacity. Only a tiny Demand for international capacity continued Cables Countries connected fraction of this capacity was being used. On to be the fundamental engine driving Australia-Japan (via Guam; also AJC the other hand, the trans-Pacific routes were submarine cable system deployment in the proposed link to US) not seen to have this luxury of oversupply of Asia-Pacific region. The vast majority of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong APCN (part of Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia, capacity and the pressure to lay more such that demand will result from data/Internet- AOFSCN) cables has been steadily mounting. related usage. The second ranked segment Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in terms of demand was corporate, but that China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Despite the fact that market rationalisation APCN 2 Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, only accounted for less than 10% of overall Singapore and Taiwan was taking place in Asia, there remained a demand. The strong demand for bandwidth BMP Brunei-Malaysia-Philippines flood of capacity and regional carriers were coming from India and China has resulted B-S (part of Brunei-Singapore still struggling. Cross-border capacity prices in a more aggressive involvement of AOFSCN) were continuing to slide throughout Asia. operators from these two countries in the C2C (Northern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, submarine cable market. From India in loop) Korea, the Philippines The formation of Reach Ltd in 2000 saw a particular we have seen VSNL, Bharti significant player enter the market. Comprising Tele-ventures and Reliance Infocomm all C2C (Southern Hong Kong, Singapore, the loop) Philippines a 50-50 joint venture between Australia’s moving into the business of international China-US Japan, US, China, Korea, Taiwan, Telstra and Hong Kong’s PCCW, it resulted telecoms infrastructure, with a strong focus Cable (CUCN) Hawaii, Guam in the consolidation of a global network with a on submarine cables. CJC China-Japan strong Asian focus. Reach gained an ownership CKC China-Korea interest in around 50 submarine cable systems. By early 2006, following several rough Dumai Melaka Indonesia-Malaysia The operator signalled its intention to further years, the global bandwidth market was Cable (DMCS) consolidate its market position when, in late showing signs of improved health in the Japan, China, Singapore, Hong EAC (East Asia 2001, it acquired the Asian assets of Level 3 form of supply equilibrium, price stability Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Crossing) Communications. These included Level 3’s and competitor consolidation. Persistent Malaysia, and the Philippines UK-Korea-Singapore-Hong Kong- North Asian cable system and capacity on the international bandwidth demand growth FLAG Japan-US (J-US) cable system, as well as data has depleted the amount of spare capacity Indonesia-Japan centres in Hong Kong and Tokyo. It followed on many submarine cables. This resulted in G-P-T/ Guam-Philippines-Taiwan, Hong HONTAI-2/H- Kong-Taiwan, Hong Kong-Japan- this up by signing major capacity leasing and many network operators, including VSNL, J-K Korea interconnect deals with Level 3 to strengthen FLAG Telecom and Asia Netcom, among HJK Hong Kong-Japan-Korea its global capability. However, the fragile others, lighting additional wavelengths Honphil 2 Hong Kong-Philippines nature of this market was highlighted when, in and fibre pairs on an ‘as-needed’ basis. February 2003, Telstra and PCCW announced This incremental approach to managing Hontai 2 Hong Kong-Taiwan a dramatic write down of their Reach assets, spare circuit inventories has meant that lit i2i Network India-Singapore Indonesia – Singapore (Java – after reduced demand and tough price bandwidth supply and bandwidth demand JAKABARE Kalimantan – Batam – Singapore) competition seriously damaged revenues. The were coming into balance. This did not JASURAUS Australia-Indonesia 30 write-down totalled US$1.6 billion in value and, mean, however, that a network construction boom was pending. Instead, operators more cautious approach to infrastructure Major submarine cables needed to make more of what they already investments. in the Asia-Pacific region - 2008 had. According to TeleGeography, by the end of 2006 little more than 14% of the potential Peter A. Evans is Cables Countries connected capacity on major submarine cables around Senior Analyst, Asia, JUS Japan, Hawaii, US at BuddeComm. After the world was lit. more than thirty years KJCN Korea–Japan (two links) of corporate and M-T (part of Malaysia-Thailand By mid-2007, there were at least six new cable international experience AOFSCN) projects mooted to cross the Pacific and help in telecommunications Nava-1 Australia, Singapore, Indonesia meet a particular predicted shortfall in capacity and IT, including as an PacRim East New Zealand-Hawaii between Asia and the US as Asia’s broadband executive manager with the Australian incumbent PacRim West Australia-Guam usage increases. Asia Netcom CEO Bill Barney telco, Telstra, Peter Evans is now applying his Pacific Japan (Ajigaura; Shima), US said that stocks then in existence may well be extensive background to conducting market Crossing (PC- exhausted by as early as 2013 but he warned analysis and research work for the BuddeComm 1) that should all six proposed cable systems organisation. Having joined this telecom market RJK Russia-Japan-Korea come to market, competition would consign research company in 2000, his responsibilities RNAL (Reach Japan-Korea-Taiwan-Hong Kong them all to failure. In September 2007, Level 3 quickly expanded until he was looking after the North Asia entire Asian market. The extensive portfolio of Loop) was warning of a trans-Pacific capacity bubble research reports that has been built up over SAFE South Africa-Far East by 2009, although not all carriers agreed with time provides a comprehensive insight into South East Asia-Middle East- this view. Level 3 believed that with eight SEA-ME-WE 2 the telecom markets of Asia; whilst inevitably Western Europe cables planned for deployment on the trans- there is a major focus on the burgeoning mobile and broadband market segments, the key In Asia: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Pacific route over a two-year period the risk Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, regional undersea cable market is an area of of such a bubble was high. While there were Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, particular research interest. As part of his work SEA-ME-WE 3 real drivers for new Asia cables – revenues Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, for BuddeComm, Peter has an office in South remained relatively high and there was an Philippines, Macau, Hong Kong, East Asia and continues to spend a significant China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan. obvious need for diversity – there was also amount of his time in and around the Asia In Asia: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, potential for over reaction. Plans already in region. Prior to joining BuddeComm, Peter SEA-ME-WE 4 Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, place would see six new east-west cables – was involved in business development work for Singapore Telstra as that company sought new markets in TPE, AAG, Asia Netcom, Flag, Japan-US and TIS cable Thailand-Indonesia-Singapore Asia. He also spent six years working in Saudi Unity – rolled out in 2008/09 and another two Arabia as the Senior Advisor to the General TPCN3/HAW-4 US-Hawaii-Japan north-south from Telstra and Pipe Networks Manager, Strategic Planning in Saudi Telecom. TPCN4 US-Japan-Canada planned over the same period. From about TPCN5 US-Japan-Guam 2Tb/s of lit capacity in place, the proposed TVH (part of Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong cables were set to release as much as 6Tb/s AOFSCN) of initial lit capacity on the market. VSNL Japan-US Transpacific (formerly Tyco Japan-Guam The level of activity in the sector may be curbed Transpacific) somewhat in 2009 in the wake of the financial (Source: BuddeComm - Asia - Infrastructure - Submarine Cables) 31 crisis. The large telcos in Asia may take a Note: AOFSCN is the ASEAN Optical Fibre Submarine Cable Network The other major factor is the insatiable demand by modern human societies to Pacific Outlook communicate. There are still many millions of people yet to regularly experience, enjoy, By Brett O’Riley and benefit from basic on-line connectivity, fixed or wireless. Many of these people are in the Pacific region, and they are from economies that have the potential to sustain the development of modern communications infrastructure.

As that demand has continued to increase, we have seen some interesting developments that I expect to see continue. Machine to machine communications is a major area of demand growth, and I see plenty of signs that over time the demand from these applications, be it RFID, vending machines, oil field monitoring or radio telescopes; will be as large in capacity terms as the communications requirements generated by people.

2008 was a year of significant milestones in Asia-Pacific that will continue to positively impact our industry in 2009: 2009 dawns and for many of us there While the magnitude of the “financial is a sense of déjà vu. crisis” facing the global economy is • The completion of the Trans Pacific without doubt, I believe there is good Express cable system between the A period of dramatic building activity reason to believe that 2009 will present People’s Republic of China and the USA, in the submarine cable industry driven the first of the latest generation of trans- a positive outlook for the Pacific Pacific cables. by carriers and new market entrants; region. I make no apologies for being followed by a financial crisis that catches an optimist in my view. After 20 years • The completion of the Endeavour cable projects and operators in various states in telecommunications I think the between Australia and Hawai’i. of completion and confidence. On the underlying industry growth rate, coupled • The development of the Japan to USA face of it the parallels with the “tech with our ability to continually drive Unity cable system representing a different wreck” are there as the debt markets down operating costs, has created an joint venture model for development, with have contracted or closed to all but the extremely resilient telecoms industry. elements of consortiums and private 32 best of investment propositions. systems included. • Significant upgrades of existing systems So what should we see in 2009? addition governments throughout the region throughout Asia-Pacific. from Indonesia to the USA are looking at Underlying demand looks set to continue national broadband infrastructure projects The continued emergence of niche • to grow. Many carriers I have spoken to stimulate economic growth. regional submarine cable operators like with predict traffic volumes will grow Matrix (Indonesia), Pipe (Australia), OPT based on the experience of previous Asian customers will have unprecedented (French Polynesia), True (Thailand), Kordia economic cycles, as their customers use access to submarine international capacity, (New Zealand), and Ochre (Australia); all telecommunications as a substitute for to meet their intra-regional requirements at different stages of execution with their solutions to address specific demand/ travel, assuming that talk of a “depression” and for onward connectivity to the USA supply imbalances in their respective is at the extreme of the economic downturn and Europe. There will be significant new markets, many of them addressing outcomes. submarine capacity available intra-Asia developing countries. from a number of systems including: 3G networks will continue to expand • The growth of Asian intra-regional throughout the region; coverage is • The new Tata linear system from traffic as internet content and sites are still limited in most countries to large Singapore to Japan, with spur connections developed, reducing the reliance on the urban areas. China’s development to underserved markets. USA as the global internet host. and implementation of their unique 3G • Potential new links from Pacnet’s multi- standard is being keenly watched by the • An increasing focus by countries ring network into underserved countries in on national broadband initiatives as a handset industry. This mobile growth will Asia. strategic economic and social development be voice and data, the latter fuelled by platform, with countries including Malaysia, M2M applications. • Completion of the delayed Asia America Singapore, Australia, New Zealand Gateway providing South Asia and Hong developing new broadband infrastructure, Social networking will continue to power Kong connectivity through to the USA. demand for ISPs, Generation Y should to match early regional leaders like Korea, Completion of Indosat’s new Jakabare be renamed “V” for video, whether it is • Japan and Hong Kong. system from Jakarta to Singapore. self generated, music clips, movies or Growing demand for submarine cable • other forms of entertainment. VOIP using • Upgrades of existing systems including solutions by specific industries, particularly Skype or other providers continues to SEA-ME-WE 3 & 4. oil and gas, which can also potentially rise, while Google continues to stimulate facilitate hybrid regional solutions. consumer interest with its wide range of There are also a number of proposed intra-Asia systems including Singapore- • Continued dramatic increases in applications. How did we manage before bandwidth utilisation by mobile users, with Google Earth? Japan Cable, APCN-4 and Intrepid to meet the expansion of 3G and other wireless forecast demand. data standards, and the development Expectations for the development of new of internet oriented devices under the infrastructure does need to be tempered by Elsewhere in the region Pipe’s system I-Phone, Android, Windows Mobile, and the fact that debt financing for any projects from Australia to Guam, will also provide Symbian standards. will be challenging over the next 12 months, new connectivity for Papua New Guinea. but strong balance sheets and underlying It is great to see a developer embrace the opportunity to address Third World 33 demand will enable projects to proceed. In requirements. Other systems have recently been meeting their demand and third parties suppliers, as we now face potentially built that go past Pacific Island nations including local carriers. less frenetic demand from the telcos in that are crying out for submarine cable 2009. Oil & gas, off-shore wind farms capacity, without any concern from the There will of course continue to be and scientific projects should continue system developer for the potential positive challenges during 2009 beyond the financial apace reducing the impact of a slowing in economic and social development impact sector issues. Permitting and licensing the long-haul system development cycle. a spur could have made. As an industry in the Pacific can be complicated, with These requirements and some of the we must make sure this does not happen, countries at various stages of deregulation, tricky smaller systems in Asia will require and it is only through a few visionaries like and different focuses including national experienced marine installers, and clever John Hibbard that opportunities for small security being brought to bear. system design, ensuring plenty of exciting countries are realised. Even the most powerful and experienced challenges for industry participants. There is NGO development funding consortiums have run up against this There remain concerns that there is a available to assist with spur extensions issues, and the continued costs for all growing skill shortage in the industry, that can be utilised. It is also pleasing to industry participants has been high from exacerbated by the smaller number of see the French Government support for the consequent delays. Perhaps as an manufacturing plants and installation the Honotua cable from French Polynesia industry we need to quantify the economic vessels. There has been new investment to Hawai’i. costs to greater extent to bring these issues in the industry which is welcomed. into focus for policy makers. Demand from non carriers for submarine cable solutions continues to grow, On the system manufacturing side the Brett O’Riley is Managing particularly in the oil & gas industry. hump of demand for new systems seems to Director of Ochre Services, Unfortunately planning and decision cycles be over. New market entrants are starting and has been closely to make an impression as their technology involved in the Asia-Pacific in the industry can often be protracted, which telecoms infrastructure has been frustrating for potential suppliers is proven in an operating environment. business since 1989. He from our industry. But the underlying Cable kilometre demand is reducing for was a member of the initial demand and interest in higher capacity to manufacturers as the long-haul systems team that developed the serve off-shore facilities is definitely there mentioned above have been implemented, Southern Cross Cable or are about to be. system between Australia, New Zealand, Fiji across multiple fields in multiple countries, and the United States of America. Southern particularly for new fields. Cross is globally recognised as an outstanding All of this should be good for lowering success story in how to develop an independent As automation increases and operators unit costs for developers after a period wholesaler of broadband capacity. Brett become more focussed on availability, where system pricing per kilometre raised also looked after the North American market submarine cables become essential. A lot dramatically, some of it driven by increases and related projects for Southern Cross, of the activity in the oil & gas industry is in input commodity costs for steel and and later was a founder of Nava Networks, which was established to develop broadband below the radar screen. I expect 2009 to fuel. opportunities in the region. Most recently be a landmark year for submarine cable Brett has been in senior roles at Telecom NZ, development in oil & gas, and do not be Hopefully the 2008 high growth period will managing ICT merger and acquisition activity, 34 surprised to see hybrid system solutions have assisted with profitability for industry and the corporate mobile market. CALL FOR PAPERS

The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is planning its next Plenary meeting in Florida, USA during the period 21 - 23 April 2009 inclusive.

All of the World’s major telecommunications companies are represented within the ICPC whose principal purpose is to promote the safeguarding of submarine cables against man-made and natural hazards. This unique and prestigious organisation also serves as a forum for the exchange of technical, environmental and legal information concerning the marine aspects of both telecommunications and power submarine cable systems.

The theme of this Plenary meeting will be: Submarine Cables: The Challenges of Protecting Critical Infrastructure The Executive Committee (EC) therefore seeks presentations from interested parties that address the importance and challenges of protecting submarine cables. Topics could include, but are not limited to: • Impact of Submarine Cable Failures on the Modern World • Legal / Regulatory Challenges & Solutions • Reducing the Risk from Man-Made & Natural Hazards • Speeding up the Cable Repair Process • Working with International Organisations to Improve Cable Protection • Emerging Technologies & Concepts 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 should be sent via email to [email protected] no later than 31 January 2009. The EC will evaluate all submissions based on content and quality. Washington’s largest cities. The two landing stations are part of a strong Enterprise focus by Anchorage-based ACS, Alaska’s leading integrated telecom provider. The company is rapidly evolving from its past as an incumbent local exchange carrier into an advanced telecom firm capable of serving large commercial and government clients, as well as other telecom carriers, with rooftops in Alaska, the Lower 48 and beyond. Over the last five years ACS has worked to transform its network to better serve the fast-growing Enterprise market and in 2007 it invested $175 million in long-haul undersea f i b e r optics. A key part of the investment was the $105 m i l l i o n Florence By The Sea By Paula Dobbyn

A rare opportunity has emerged for Manager, Carrier Sales & owners of trans-Pacific submarine cable intent Service. on landing on the West Coast of the United In addition to the States. A new cable landing station, on the Florence facility, ACS Oregon coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean, recently acquired an is now open for business. existing Oregon-based Located in Florence, Oregon, and owned cable landing station by Alaska Communications Systems (ACS,) in Nedonna Beach the landing station is a virtual turnkey operation through its purchase of boasting an array of attractive features. The Crest Communications facility is run by highly skilled staff in a state Corp. and its subsidiary, that embraces the fiber optic cable industry; it WCI Cable. Like the has an offshore marine environment conducive Florence station, the to cable-laying; and it provides diverse and Nedonna facility also ties robust backhaul transport to the major telecom in to dual path terrestrial hubs of Portland and Seattle. fiber routes interconnecting “It’s an ideal spot for landing a new with major telecommunications undersea cable,” said Laura Dana, ACS Senior infrastructure in Oregon and 36 Operations Control Center and remote data Since issuing its first undersea cable permit in hosting center in Hillsboro, Oregon, as well as 1990, Oregon has developed a strong track dual network operations centers in Anchorage record for timely landing of new cables. In and Raleigh, North Carolina. 2005, Oregon Gov. Theodore R. Kulongoski “The company is uniquely positioned declared his state “open for business” to cable to serve the trans-Pacific fiber optic cable companies. industry,” Dana said. The state sponsored a booth at the Pacific Telecom Conference in Honolulu that Why Florence? year. Hawaii. In a welcome letter to delegates, In the early stages of the AKORN Kulongoski noted Oregon’s established project, ACS hired experts to scour the coastline process for landing undersea cable on its coast of California, Oregon and Washington to find and assured them that all permit requests are the best location for a new, physically diverse given “full and speedy consideration.” In fact, landing station. Several factors led ACS to Oregon provides a streamlined permit process choose the seaside Oregon town of Florence. “One of the biggest drivers was availability of backhaul. Florence had existing terrestrial cables connecting it to the big Pacific Northwest hubs – Seattle and Portland –with construction of ACS’ own submarine cable, the easy connections to Los Angeles and San Alaska Oregon Network (AKORN.) With its four Francisco,” said Steve Gebert, ACS Program fiber pairs, AKORN is a new, geographically Manager, who oversaw the AKORN build. distinct fiber route between Anchorage and For trans-Pacific cable owners, this Oregon. It is equipped with 40 Gigabits of means they can route their traffic through the initial capacity and is designed to move 2.6 ACS landing station and on to major nodes terabits of data per second. The new AKORN in Portland and Seattle, or in the opposite cable system is scheduled to begin moving direction – from the U.S. to Asia, and beyond. commercial traffic in the first quarter of this ACS’ peering points in Portland and Seattle year. connect to national and global telecom hubs. ACS allocated $70 million toward the The Florence facility has a beach manhole and purchase of WCI Cable and its existing Northstar conduit back to the landing station that make it submarine cable system interconnecting ready for another cable, in addition to AKORN. Anchorage, Valdez and Juneau, Alaska, with The land station also has an easement for Nedonna Beach, Hillsboro and Portland, additional horizontal directional drilling. Oregon. With the AKORN and Northstar Another key driver for choosing cable systems, ACS now owns two of the four Florence and why it makes a superb choice for undersea fiber cables between Alaska and landing a cable is ease of permitting and good the Lower 48 states. In addition to the cable relations with state government. Compared systems and landing stations, ACS’ Lower to the neighboring states of California and 48 asset portfolio also includes a Network Washington, Oregon typically makes it less 37 difficult to land fiber optic cables on its shores. the sea bed is soft and the cable-burying through the Westin Building, one of premier equipment does not have to negotiate hard carrier hotels in the Pacific Northwest. bottom conditions and steep slopes, the end Each of the terrestrial routes transports result is more dependable and less costly. two 10Gigabit wavelengths for a total capacity The AKORN cable from Alaska to of 40Gigabits with potential for capacity Oregon is fully buried from the Florence beach upgrades. manhole out to 700 fathoms of water depth ACS’ Nedonna Beach landing station – a good indication of the seabed’s softness, further up the Oregon coast also provides McMullen said. diverse, redundant backhaul transport to Portland and Seattle with connectivity to all The Backhaul major carriers. In addition to housing the ACS engaged LS Networks to tie the Northstar system terminal equipment, the Florence landing station into carrier hotels in Nedonna Beach landing station is a landing Portland and Seattle. Based in Portland, LS point for other trans-Pacific cables in addition Networks had an existing presence in Florence. to Northstar. But it has room for one more. To accommodate ACS, the company extended its existing fiber in Florence 12 miles to the ACS landing station. LS with a 180-day turn-around. Some applications Network now provides ACS have been issued in less than two months, with two diverse routes to according to the state’s official web site. Pacific Northwest hubs “It’s clear that the state of Oregon on its network. has taken the position that undersea cable “One carries infrastructure is good for the state and is traffic from Florence to Fairbanks

Anchorage welcome here,” said Scott McMullen, chairman Portland and then meets Nikiski Whittier Homer Valdez of the Oregon Fishermen’s Cable Committee. up with the ACS network. McMullen’s organization is an association of Then I have another pair commercial trawl fishermen and cable owners of wavelengths that go Juneau who have negotiated cooperative agreements from Florence and bypass with the fiber optic cable companies to protect Portland and connect with the integrity of submarine cables transiting the the ACS network in Seattle.

Oregon fishing grounds. We give them fully diverse Seattle “Our job is to provide communication, routing,” said Jim Bascom, Nedonna Beach Portland coordination and cooperation between the Hillsboro Director of Sales and Florence fishing and the submarine cable industries so Marketing, for LS Networks. that both and co-exist,” McMullen said. In Portland, ACS The seabed that extends into the Pacific network traffic connects into Ocean from the Florence landing station is co-location facilities in the Pittock mostly smooth and silty, making it relatively Internet Exchange, one of the largest easy to bury cable. It’s no small feat to plough telecommunications nodes in the United undersea cable into the ocean floor. But when 38 States. In Seattle, ACS moves traffic From its Hillsboro facility, ACS provides career with the Air Force Eastern Test Range for 10 years prior to joining ACS in the recent equipment operations and maintenance Missile Project supporting its undersea cable acquisition, has received specialized training to support existing trans-Pacific cables, as component. Holland later managed submarine at Alcatel-Lucent in France on two occasions. well as cable duct and dark fiber backhaul telecommunications in Southeast Alaska for “I’m really happy to be with ACS. It’s infrastructure to Portland. 10 years and prior to joining ACS, he oversaw a great company to work for and its new operations for the Northstar cable for nearly a investments in fiber optics are truly exciting,” Skills and Talent decade. he said. It obviously takes much more than Most of Holland’s staff has been with state-of-the art equipment to keep voice him since the 1990s and they are highly skilled and data traffic moving under the ocean and in operating landing stations and undersea between continents. A highly skilled workforce cable networks. One of them is Anatoliy Paula Dobbyn is a former with years of industry experiences is another Pavlenko, an electrical engineer by training. print and broadcast journalist vital ingredient. In addition to its Anchorage “Our primary mission is to take care who directs corporate workforce of some 1,000, ACS, through its of the landing stations. But of course we do communications for Alaska Communications Systems. purchase of WCI Cable, inherited a seasoned everything from maintaining and repairing the She is a longtime Alaskan. group of engineers and technicians with equipment to support cable operators across extensive background operating cable landing multiple time zones. We also support cable

stations and supporting undersea cable ships that do repair work at sea,” Pavlenko

systems. said. Jack Holland is Director of ACS Cable “Cable ships are very expensive to Systems, the subsidiary that operates AKORN operate so you have to be able to efficiently and Northstar and the associated infrastructure. and effectively help those people do what they Holland has more than 30 years of experience do. It’s a wide range of skills you have to have, supporting undersea cable systems for the and not just technical.” military and the private sector. He began his Pavlenko, who worked for WCI Cable 39 Advertise with the Experts:

ince 2001, Submarine Telecoms Forum Advertising Rates has been the platform for discourse on Magazine pages sub­marine telecom cable and network Advertising enquiries S Rates US$ 1x 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x operations. ­Industry ­professionals provide Tel: (703) 444 0845 editorial­ ­content from their own niche and focus. Page 3,525 3,420 3,314 3,208 3,102 2,997 Fax: (703) 349 5562 Each bi-monthly edition includes 2/3 2,600 2,522 2,444 2,366 2,288 2,210 [email protected] commentary and information on system and service ­provision, and ­issues critical to the 1/3 1,678 1,627 1,577 1,527 1,476 1,426 ­industry.

Website Banners $575/month Post your web linked banner to the Submarine Telecoms Forum website, where 5000+ readers come to view the latest news feed and our bi- monthly magazine.

Feature Section Sponsorship Available at full-page advertisement rate, section sponsors are identified with a banner (link) at the beginning and end of the featured ­section. 40 All advertising rates effective as of January 2008. A global guide to the latest known locations of the world’s cableships*, as of January 2009. Information Provided by Lloyds List.

VESSEL NAME ARRIVAL DATE SAILED DATE PORT NAME COUNTRY NAME Acergy Discovery 11/9/2008 11/12/2008 Esbjerg Denmark Acergy Discovery 11/15/2008 11/17/2008 Esbjerg Denmark Acergy Discovery 11/21/2008 11/22/2008 Esbjerg Denmark Acergy Discovery 12/10/2008 12/10/2008 Esbjerg Denmark Acergy Discovery 12/16/2008 12/16/2008 Esbjerg Denmark Acergy Discovery 12/23/2008 Dundee United Kingdom Asean Restorer 11/8/2008 11/13/2008 Pasir Gudang Malaysia Asean Restorer 11/13/2008 11/18/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Asean Restorer 11/28/2008 12/12/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Asean Restorer 12/19/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Atlantic Guardian 11/7/2008 11/7/2008 Valletta Malta Atlantic Guardian 11/15/2008 11/15/2008 Suez Arab Republic of Egypt Atlantic Guardian 12/9/2008 12/10/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore C.S.Sovereign 11/10/2008 11/10/2008 Rosyth United Kingdom C.S.Sovereign 12/9/2008 12/9/2008 Dover Strait United Kingdom C.S.Sovereign 12/10/2008 12/12/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom C.S.Sovereign 12/12/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom Cable Innovator 11/6/2008 11/7/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Cable Protector 11/29/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Cable Retriever 12/6/2008 Hong Kong People’s Republic of China Chamarel 11/24/2008 11/28/2008 Cape Town South Africa Chamarel 12/2/2008 12/24/2008 Walvis Bay Republic of Namibia Chamarel 12/24/2008 Cape Town South Africa CS Fu Hai 12/10/2008 12/14/2008 Hong Kong People’s Republic of China 41 VESSEL NAME ARRIVAL DATE SAILED DATE PORT NAME COUNTRY NAME CS Fu Hai 12/18/2008 12/22/2008 Hong Kong People’s Republic of China DP Reel 11/23/2008 11/23/2008 Marsaxlokk Malta DP Reel 11/18/2008 11/23/2008 Marsaxlokk Malta DP Reel 12/15/2008 12/16/2008 Douala Cameroon Elektron II 11/7/2008 11/7/2008 Skaw Denmark Elektron II 11/6/2008 11/7/2008 Drammen Norway Elektron II 11/14/2008 11/16/2008 Drammen Norway Elektron II 11/19/2008 11/19/2008 Tyne United Kingdom Elektron II 11/24/2008 11/25/2008 Invergordon United Kingdom Elektron II 12/8/2008 12/8/2008 Skaw Denmark Elektron II 12/3/2008 12/8/2008 Drammen Norway Elektron II 12/13/2008 12/13/2008 Skaw Denmark Emerald Sea 12/13/2008 12/23/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Fender Care 2 12/16/2008 Apapa-Lagos Nigeria Fjordkabel 11/11/2008 11/11/2008 Harstad Norway Fjordkabel 11/26/2008 11/29/2008 Harstad Norway Fjordkabel 12/3/2008 12/4/2008 Harstad Norway Geo Challenger 1/4/2009 Valletta Malta Geowave Commander 12/4/2008 Mumbai India Geowave Master 11/6/2008 Walvis Bay Republic of Namibia Global Sentinel 11/17/2008 11/24/2008 Portland(OR USA) United States of America Global Sentinel 11/24/2008 12/31/2008 Portland(OR USA) United States of America Gulmar Badaro 11/18/2008 11/18/2008 Ravenna Italy Gulmar Badaro 11/17/2008 11/18/2008 Ravenna Italy Ile de Batz 11/17/2008 11/22/2008 Portland(OR USA) United States of America Ile de Batz 12/11/2008 12/11/2008 Panama Canal Panama Ile de Brehat 11/8/2008 11/11/2008 Brest France Ile de Brehat 11/16/2008 11/21/2008 Brest France Ile de Brehat 11/21/2008 11/26/2008 Brest France Ile de Brehat 11/27/2008 11/27/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom Ile de Brehat 12/2/2008 12/2/2008 Dover Strait United Kingdom Ile de Brehat 12/3/2008 Brest France Ile de Sein 11/8/2008 11/14/2008 Halifax Canada Ile de Sein 11/24/2008 12/16/2008 Calais France Ile de Sein 12/16/2008 12/17/2008 Everingen Netherlands 42 Ile de Sein 12/17/2008 12/17/2008 Dover Strait United Kingdom VESSEL NAME ARRIVAL DATE SAILED DATE PORT NAME COUNTRY NAME Ile de Sein 12/17/2008 Calais France IT Interceptor 11/7/2008 11/14/2008 Falmouth United Kingdom IT Interceptor 11/19/2008 11/21/2008 Las Palmas Canary Islands IT Interceptor 12/27/2008 12/29/2008 Dakar Senegal IT Intrepid 11/5/2008 11/5/2008 San Francisco United States of America IT Intrepid 11/12/2008 11/15/2008 San Francisco United States of America IT Intrepid 12/8/2008 12/8/2008 Panama Canal Panama IT Intrepid 12/28/2008 1/2/2009 Halifax Canada KDD Pacific Link 12/4/2008 12/5/2008 Kitakyushu Japan KDD Pacific Link 12/15/2008 12/25/2008 Kitakyushu Japan KDD Pacific Link 12/28/2008 12/29/2008 Yokohama Japan KDDI Ocean Link 11/25/2008 12/19/2008 Yokohama Japan Leon Thevenin 11/7/2008 11/11/2008 Brest France Leon Thevenin 11/15/2008 1/2/2009 Brest France Leon Thevenin 1/3/2009 1/3/2009 Dover Strait United Kingdom Lodbrog 11/17/2008 11/22/2008 Keelung Taiwan Lodbrog 11/26/2008 11/30/2008 Keelung Taiwan Lodbrog 12/3/2008 12/6/2008 Shanghai People’s Republic of China Lodbrog 12/16/2008 12/18/2008 Shanghai People’s Republic of China Lodbrog 12/20/2008 12/22/2008 Shanghai People’s Republic of China Maersk Recorder 11/10/2008 Shenzhen People’s Republic of China Maersk Responder 11/17/2008 11/17/2008 Valletta Malta Maersk Responder 12/12/2008 12/16/2008 Catania Italy Manta III 11/20/2008 11/20/2008 Suez Arab Republic of Egypt Nexans Skagerrak 11/17/2008 11/17/2008 Kisarazu Japan Nexans Skagerrak 11/15/2008 11/17/2008 Kisarazu Japan Nexans Skagerrak 11/17/2008 11/20/2008 Kisarazu Japan Nexans Skagerrak 11/29/2008 12/1/2008 Hong Kong People’s Republic of China Nexans Skagerrak 12/1/2008 12/16/2008 Haikou People’s Republic of China Nexans Skagerrak 12/16/2008 Hong Kong People’s Republic of China Niwa 12/17/2008 12/19/2008 Fujairah Anch. United Arab Emirates Normand Cutter 11/9/2008 11/9/2008 Dover Strait United Kingdom Normand Cutter 11/14/2008 11/14/2008 Gibraltar Gibraltar Normand Cutter 11/18/2008 11/18/2008 Messina Strait Italy Normand Cutter 12/4/2008 12/4/2008 Brindisi Italy 43 Normand Cutter 12/10/2008 12/10/2008 Brindisi Italy VESSEL NAME ARRIVAL DATE SAILED DATE PORT NAME COUNTRY NAME Normand Cutter 12/13/2008 12/13/2008 Brindisi Italy Normand Cutter 12/16/2008 12/16/2008 Brindisi Italy Normand Cutter 12/19/2008 12/19/2008 Brindisi Italy Normand Cutter 12/19/2008 12/23/2008 Cagliari Italy Normand Cutter 12/23/2008 12/23/2008 Trapani Italy Normand Cutter 12/28/2008 12/29/2008 Marsaxlokk Malta Pacific Guardian 11/10/2008 12/10/2008 Tampa United States of America Pacific Guardian 12/22/2008 12/28/2008 Bermuda Bermuda Pacific Guardian 1/2/2009 Curacao Netherlands Antilles Peace in Africa 12/7/2008 Saldanha Bay South Africa Peter Faber 12/3/2008 12/5/2008 Vigo Spain Peter Faber 12/20/2008 12/20/2008 Malta Malta Peter Faber 12/11/2008 12/20/2008 Valletta Malta Peter Faber 12/30/2008 12/30/2008 Valletta Malta Pleijel 11/29/2008 Kalmar Sweden Raymond Croze 11/10/2008 11/10/2008 Algeciras Spain Raymond Croze 11/10/2008 11/27/2008 Toulon France Raymond Croze 11/27/2008 11/27/2008 Gibraltar Gibraltar Raymond Croze 11/27/2008 11/28/2008 Algeciras Spain Raymond Croze 12/2/2008 12/2/2008 Algeciras Spain Raymond Croze 12/27/2008 12/27/2008 Catania Italy Rene Descartes 12/27/2008 12/28/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Rubicon Maverick 12/29/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Salma 11/17/2008 11/17/2008 Las Palmas Canary Islands Salma 11/22/2008 11/25/2008 Setubal Portugal Salma 11/29/2008 11/29/2008 Las Palmas Canary Islands Salma 12/4/2008 12/5/2008 St. Vincent(CPV) Republic of Cape Verde Salma 12/14/2008 12/14/2008 Las Palmas Canary Islands Salma 12/31/2008 12/31/2008 Ceuta Spain Sarku Santubong 12/1/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore SD Newton 11/7/2008 11/10/2008 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Canary Islands SD Newton 12/1/2008 12/11/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom Seamec Princess 12/11/2008 12/14/2008 Sharjah United Arab Emirates Segero 12/9/2008 12/9/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Segero 12/4/2008 12/9/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore 44 Setouchi Surveyor 11/12/2008 11/15/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore VESSEL NAME ARRIVAL DATE SAILED DATE PORT NAME COUNTRY NAME Setouchi Surveyor 11/15/2008 Singapore Republic of Singapore Skandi Neptune 12/11/2008 12/11/2008 U.S. Gulf United States of America Skandi Neptune 12/11/2008 12/11/2008 Mobile United States of America Skandi Neptune 11/26/2008 12/11/2008 Mobile United States of America Subaru 11/19/2008 11/19/2008 Nagasaki Japan Team Oman 12/4/2008 12/5/2008 Wilhelmshaven Germany Team Oman 12/11/2008 12/22/2008 Dundee United Kingdom Team Oman 12/24/2008 12/29/2008 Wilhelmshaven Germany Team Oman 12/30/2008 Wilhelmshaven Germany Teliri 11/6/2008 11/19/2008 Catania Italy Teliri 11/19/2008 11/19/2008 Augusta Italy Teliri 11/20/2008 11/21/2008 Valletta Malta Teliri 12/22/2008 12/23/2008 Catania Italy Teliri 12/30/2008 12/31/2008 Augusta Italy Texas 12/4/2008 12/4/2008 Messina Strait Italy Texas 12/5/2008 12/11/2008 Marsaxlokk Malta Texas 12/11/2008 Marsaxlokk Malta Tyco Decisive 12/25/2008 12/31/2008 Baltimore United States of America Tyco Dependable 11/20/2008 12/4/2008 Lerwick United Kingdom Tyco Dependable 12/4/2008 Baltimore United States of America Tyco Durable 11/17/2008 12/14/2008 Keelung Taiwan Tyco Resolute 11/7/2008 12/8/2008 Portsmouth(NH USA) United States of America Tyco Resolute 12/8/2008 12/12/2008 Baltimore United States of America Tyco Responder 12/9/2008 12/9/2008 Guaranao Bay Venezuela Tyco Responder 12/9/2008 Curacao Netherlands Antilles Wartena 11/17/2008 11/18/2008 Kalmar Sweden Wartena 11/24/2008 11/25/2008 Kalmar Sweden Wave Sentinel 11/5/2008 11/5/2008 Dover Strait United Kingdom Wave Sentinel 11/6/2008 11/25/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom Wave Sentinel 11/30/2008 11/30/2008 Gibraltar Gibraltar Wave Sentinel 11/30/2008 12/5/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom Wave Sentinel 12/5/2008 12/6/2008 Gibraltar Gibraltar Wave Sentinel 12/10/2008 12/11/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom Wave Sentinel 12/24/2008 Portland(GBR) United Kingdom Wave Venture 12/1/2008 Shanghai People’s Republic of China 45 Warrior event was still in everyone’s memory. It is for these reasons among others that STC (UK) rejected the Alcatel‘s suggestion to come with a joint bid, to offer a “European” solution. OneMy of the winningbrother factors has been the Letter to a friend Port-Botany cable factory. Such a factory was a strong requirement from OTC (now Telstra) and from Jean Devos the Australianin Government. arms Alcatel was the most motivated. Such a factory could expand its influence in the Pacific where the three other players were historically well established in this region, which represents My dear friend, a large part of their market. They saw this factory as a risk for their existing facilities! My friend, like most of the readers of my letter, Laboratories, in the R&D environment. Meeting Jocteur has been the true leader in terms of fiber and SubOptic ‘87 in Versailles came at the right time. you probably do not remember Robert Jocteur. with him was for me fresh air, an opening toward the cable design! He drove the development program, It is where the Australian teams discovered the This name does not ring a bell, but stay with me, future. He had the gentleness of the strong people, including two experimental links: Cannes-Juan les Mysince you Dearmost likely haveFriend “your” Jocteur in your theand ones l’Astrolabe, who have landeda natural in authority 1788 to coming discover from that PinsFrench (20km model, 1982), Antibes-Porta close cooperation Grimaud (80kmbetween own environment. theirCaptain competency, Cook wastheir already vision, withoutaround thebearing need tothe 1984),Alcatel and anda first FT, commercial exactly what link they in 1987 wanted between to es- It is only when I tried to send Robert Jocteur raiseBritish their flag. voice So or Botany to remind Bay their is now status for or me their the Marseillestablish inand their Ajaccio country. (400Km). TAT 8 came to “Botany Bay” my Christmas message last month that I was positionsymbol in of the a dreamhierarchy. which He becomes was observing a reality! the life in 1988.My Itfriend, was a 2things fibers arepairs changed system, 280since, Mb, but Istunned published at discovering recently a modest that he novel, had passed whose away title highly paidTasman “managers”, 2 has been and yet their another behavior chapter with singleone channelthing stays per true: fiber, When with you a offersophisticated something, BU an amusing smile. He knew that creative people splitting the traffic between UK and France!! 20 islast Botany September! Bay. AndIt is theI hadn’t place been in Australia made aware where of in this long Anglo-French competition! The the reader can see between the lines if you are it! How is that possible that such a man leaves us like him will always be treated like “travelling years ago! Alcatel established a award to Alcatel came out as a big surprise to or not genuinely motivated and sincere. Then without any noise? acrobats”. I sincerely hope that the submarine players of many, including inside Alcatel. Everybody was Since we had both retiredsubmarine from the submarinecable fac- He was born in Lyon, the second main French today,your among offer them becomes the ones really attending attractive PTC, realizeand this cable activity we used to tory exchange in 1989 a couple as part of of town,naturally but the expecting second of the none British in his to mind.win that When bat- theopens merits the of theseroute pioneers to “Botany who Bay.”brought this new emails each year, pursuing thisits contractway a 40 yearfor oldthe thetle, Alcatel and suchCable an headquarters expectation moved was atfrom that Lyon time technology to life and then to maturity. Since then dialog and complicity. AmongTasman all the 2 peoplelink. In from this tovery Paris logical. area, Jocteur decided that he would never the technologySee you hassoon. continuously evolved, and the Alcatel group I had workedsame with, bay, he waswhere the onetwo leave Lyon!There And were so he so did! many difficulties and Jocteur was convinced that science and technology I felt the closest, with whichcenturies I had more before affinities. the misunderstandingAlcatel should raise a betweenmemorial to Australia him, because and are fundamentalJean to theDevos progress of humanity. He was my technical teacher, my technology it is really thanks to a handful of persons including I have now lost my brother in arms. We had the French expedition France, the main one being the French presence Submarcom Consulting adviser when I was bringing the market trend and him that Alcatel managed to participate in TAT 8, same fights. “La Pérouse” made of in the Pacific area, the worse being the nuclear competition status to him! the very first long haul optical system. The decision We have both served two our ships, company La Boussole with tobomb introduce experiment the new technologyin Tahiti! The at this sad occasion Rainbow Jean Devos dedication and loyalty during 40 years, but our top was taken by ATT! Quite a surprise and a challenge for Alcatel! ATT /Bell Labs were at least a year in management was a bit nervous to perceive that we 44 were “somewhere else”. Our priority, our “religion,” advance in terms of technology development, and our belonging, was the submarine cable community. ATT was determined to build TAT 8 by itself and For Jocteur it was also the scientific community. take advantage on the market. I’m not sure ASN He was a free man, an intellectual, a scientist, an would have survived with an absence in TAT 8 or a 46 academic, a wise man. He was “at home” in the failure on this highly visible and qualifying program. Conference Date Venue www

Pacific Telecoms 18-21 January 2009 Honolulu, Hawaii USA www.ptc.org Conference 2009

International Cable 21-23 April 2009 Florida USA www.iscpc.org Protection Committee 2009

Energy Telecommunications and April 29 - May 1, 2009 Houston, Texas USA www.entelec.org Electrical Association 2009

Subsea Communications 6-8 May 2009 Macau, PRC www.subseacommunications.com Conference 2009

SubOptic 2010 11-14 May 2010 Yokohama, Japan www.suboptic.org

47