Submarine cable network getting upgraded
By Kochi: | 05 Sep 2002
Once the upgrading is through, Kochi will become the most important digital connectivity hub in India with two state-of-the art cable networks (SEA-ME-WE-3 and SAFE).
Together with the
SAFE (South Africa-Far East) network, the upgraded SEA-ME-WE-3
(South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe) will increase
the Kochi international gateways capacity and enhance
bandwidth, thus making faster Internet and other IT services
as well as international telecom services.
Two working groups, representing the international telecom
companies involved in the project, are holding their meetings
in Kochi. The first working group, dealing with testing
procedures and implementation methods for upgrading activities,
held its meeting on 2 and 4 September 2002.
The second one,
the procurement group, will meet for three days starting
from 5 September 2002. There are four principal contractors,
and of them Alcatel and KDDI-SCS are taking care of the
Indian part of the work.
The SEA-ME-WE-3 is a 39,000-km-long underwater submarine
cable network, linking 39 landing points in 33 countries
and four continents from Western Europe (including Germany,
England and France) to the Far East (including Japan,
China and Singapore) and to Australia. Kochi and Mumbai
are the two landing points in India.
Videsh
Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), which is the Indian partner
of the transnational initiative, is investing $12 million
in the SEA-ME-WE 3 upgrading project. VSNL had invested
$48 million in the original project that was commissioned
in March 2000 in India.
When
the upgrading is over, the 92 telecom companies that bankroll
this largest optic fibre cable network in the world will
have pumped in $41.5 billion. VSNL chairman Ratan Tata
opened the SAFE Cable Station at VSNLs International
Gateway office at Kakkanad, Kochi, on 5 September.
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