An international forum for the expression of ideas and First Quarter 2002 opinions pertaining to the submarine telecoms industry 1 Contents List of Advertisers Editors Exordium 3 Undersea Intelligence on the Costa del Sol International Cable Protection Committee 5 EMEA Conference 30 Emails to the Editor 4 Global Marine Systems Ltd 5,6 The State of the Industry Network Maintenance 5 Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India TMS International 16 Christian Annoque 31 Sub Tech 7 Offshore Site Investigation Conference 18 Tracking the Cableships Sub Tell 8 Latest locations of the world’s cableships 36 International Subsea & Telecom Services 22 Ventures 9 Technology in Long-span Smit-Oceaneering Cable Systems 29,39,47 Submarine Systems Vessels 10 CTC Marine Projects 35 Tony Frisch 40 Searching for a light in the fog A future for the submarine cable industry? Fibre Optics in Offshore Michael Ruddy 11 Communications Jon Seip 45 Bandwidth ORGANISING A The State of the Market Letter to a friend CON ERENCE? Rex Ramsden 19 Jean Devos 52 Give your exhibition or conference Countdown to Apollo Launch maximum exposure to the submarine Australasian Communications Conference The world’s most advanced cable system telecoms industry. Advertise your event in A once-only chance to hear from influential Katherine Edwards 23 Submarine Telecoms Forum strategists and CEOs 56 The State of the Industry and reach all the key people. The Americas Diary Dates Email: [email protected]@subtelforum.com John Manock 27 Upcoming Conferences 2002 57 2 An international forum for the expression of ideas and opinions pertaining to the submarine telecom industry Exordium Submarine Telecoms Forum is published quarterly by WFN Strategies, L.L.C. The publication may not be I never could sprint much. reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publishers. Liability: Truth be known, I didn’t start running until I while every care is taken in preparation of this was well into my 30s, and before that I was a publication, the publishers cannot be held responsible swimmer. But even in the water I preferred the for the accuracy of the information herein, or any errors longer race to the short, choosing instead to which may occur in advertising or editorial content, or bear down, not looking ahead for the end. any consequence arising from any errors or omissions. Submarine Telecoms Forum is an independent I suppose that’s still true today. commercial publication, serving as a freely accessible When I look at this incredible, changing market, I choose not as forum for professionals in industries connected with some suggest, “to cry in my beer.” Instead I plan to bear down submarine optical fibre technologies and techniques. The and finish the race – not in a single short burst, but in a slow, publisher cannot be held responsible for any views pedantic, purposeful way. This is after all a marathon of sorts. expressed by contributors, and the editor reserves the right to edit any advertising or editorial material I suspect those of us who are experiencing not our first, but submitted for publication. second or third such slowdown, know that there will be indeed an © WFN Strategies L.L.C., 2002 end in sight – and we’ll keep from the temptation of others to Contributions are welcomed and should be forwarded jump from that ledge. to the Managing Editor: Wayne F. Nielsen, WFN Strategies, And when it’s time, we’ll bother to look up. 115 Environs Road, Sterling, Virginia 20165, USA. Tel: +1 (703) 444-2527, Fax:+1 (703) 444-3047. Email: [email protected]. Wayne F. Nielsen Advertising enquiries: Publisher Email: [email protected]. Designed and produced by Ted Breeze BJ Marketing Communications, Colchester, UK.. 3 Nice publication, especially for the Congrats and thank you. A very good- Emails to first version, congratulations. looking book. Looks like a metric ton of work. John Warta President & CEO, NextNet Ventures Regards, Ján Vlcek ○○○○○○○○○○ the Editor ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ President of Variant Inc. I just read the premiere issue of ○○○○○○○○○ Congratulations for the 1st ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ edition. Excellent! subtelforum and I want to congratulate you for a very well done and Jean Devos informative webzine. My staff and Brilliant, the industry really needs President AXIOM/AXONE myself will be waiting for the next this. Member of Don Quixote association issue. Steven Wells ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ John W. Graham PricewaterhouseCoopers Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, ○○○○○○○○○ Thank for notifying us of your new ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ magazine, which has been well received International Telecom Group by those of us involved on cable ○○○○○○○○○○ projects in Fugro. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Thank you very much for issuing to As the main commercial contact me the first publication of the point for cable surveys in Fugro Greatly enjoyed this first edition - Submarine Telecoms Forum. Survey can I request to be included hope to see many more I believe our industry will in your notification notice for next benefit from your initiative and wish quarter’s publication. Regards you all the best and continued success Tony Trapp, with your new online magazine. Thanks and best regards, Managing Director Eric Robertson, Fugro The Engineering Business Best Regards Steve Silvano ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Vice-President, IT International Telecom Very nice work with the Sub Tel I received a copy of this publication ○○○○○○○○○ Forum!! To the point, authoritative, today. Thank you - this is a great ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ and timely. way to stay informed and is long overdue. I’m looking forward to the Nice magazine and web site - all very Stephen P. Miller next publication. professional. My congratulations. Head, Geological Data Center Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Best regards, Chuck Chamberlain, Esq. UCSD Adien Agenbach 44 network maintenance sponsored by Malta state-owned energy provider Enemalta stated recently it would sue the owners of the Tonga-registered, 85-metre vessel Marwa M, Call for Papers which damaged one of two 33kV submarine Global Marine Systems Ltd will be hosting the next Plenary meeting of the power cables which supply power to the island of Gozo, three miles north of Malta. International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) The 9,000-tonne cargo vessel damaged Florida, USA, 4-6 June inclusive. the cable when it anchored between Malta and All of the World’s major telecommunications companies are represented within this prestigious Gozo, apparently to shelter from bad weather. organisation whose principal purpose is to promote the safeguarding of submarine cables Enemalta said that according to investigations against man-made and natural hazards. it would not be possible to repair the $2.3 million The Executive Committee (EC) seeks presentations by interested parties that would cable, laid in 1981. primarilyaddress the following topics: Markers in the area forbid vessels from anchoring, due to the cables. • Environment • Fishing Liaison / Cable Awareness • Marine Technology The damage to the cable caused It is envisaged that around four presentations will be accepted for each topic category. Papers which thousands of people in Gozo to be without address other relevant areas of submarine cable business may also be considered. Prospective presenters are respectfully advised that papers which are overtly marketing a product or service will not be accepted. electricity between Sunday and Monday morning. Power is now being provided through NB: Commercial exhibits may be displayed near the ICPC meeting room by special arrangement. Please contact the Secretary for further details. the second cable. Presentations should be 25 minutes long including time for questions. The EC will evaluate all submissions The vessel has been held in Malta and is based on content and quality. Abstracts should be sent for the attention of the ICPC Secretary via being guarded by a Maltese armed forces patrol e-mail or fax no later than 29 March 2002. E-mail: [email protected] FAX: +44 870 052 6049 boat one mile off Valletta harbour. 5 network maintenance sponsored by CTC has been awarded a contract to supply two- Teesside University and will serve the two-fold company aims to be the industry pioneer of cable maintenance ROVs to NSCMA (North Sea purpose of providing much needed training for improved cable system security while having a Cable Maintenance Agreement). The 300kW offshore personnel through real-time simulations significant market share in cable installation, vehicles will have a burial depth of 1.5m and of live operations and being a tool by which to protection and maintenance operations the capability to launch and recover in seastate analyse, and consequently reduce, problems worldwide. 6. The ROVs are currently being built at SMD experienced during offshore operations. and will be mobilised to Maersk Defender and The entire subsea cable industry currently Peter Faber by April 2002. suffers significant financial losses through CTC Marine Projects is a leading subsea inadequate training with many new crews being telecommunications cable installation and trained ‘on the job’. CTC’s Simulator will train maintenance contractor based in Darlington. crews, both internal and external, to a high The company is a subsidiary of Alcatel, the standard and improve the productivity of worlds largest supplier of undersea fibreoptic offshore operations industry wide.