Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks (ASN) has partnered with Bluesky Pacific Group to build a new undersea cable linking New Zealand and Hawaii.
The Moana Cable system will span more than 9,700 km, connecting New Zealand to Hawaii and the Cook Islands to Samoa. The system is being built to meet capacity requirements caused by increased traffic requirements and a growing demand for fibre services in Bluesky’s markets.
The Moana Cable will be the first long-haul submarine cable in the Pacific islands region and will rely on 200 Gbps transmission technology. Alcatel-Lucent said the system will offer capacity of 20 terabits per second between Hawaii and New Zealand.
ASN will supply its submarine optical technology for the project, and will also be responsible for cable laying and maintenance of the system.
The cable is expected to be fully deployed in 2018. The first segment will connect New Zealand to Hawaii, serving Samoa and American Samoa, and span over 8,000km. The second section will link the Cook Islands to the Samoa hub and span over 1,700km.
Additional Pacific island nations will also be able to connect to the infrastructure, A-L said, including Niue, Tokelau and French Polynesia.
Adolfo Montenegro, Executive Committee Member of Amper and Bluesky Pacific Group CEO said: “We are committed to serving our customers best. For the Pacific Islands, it is important to tap into a digital highway between the larger markets to gain the benefit of economies of scale.
“In this instance the digital highway is Moana Cable connecting New Zealand and USA. Cost effective and reliable telecommunications bring significant benefits to education, commercial, medical and governmental activities and play a vital role in economic and social development.”
Alcatel-Lucent’s losses widened in the three months to September following a €193 million impairment charge related to the vendor’s submarine business.
The France-based vendor is also working an undersea cable project in the Mediterranean.
Philippe Dumont, President of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks, said: “The continued need for broadband access is driving the new projects in the Asia-Pacific region and contributing to the upward trend the submarine cables industry is experiencing.
Source: http://www.eurocomms.com/industry-news/11212-asn-to-build-9-700km-submarine-cable-under-pacific