Globe, Palau's BSCC sign submarine fiber optics cable deal

Globe Telecom Inc. and Palau's Belau Submarine Cable Corp. (BSCC) signed an agreement allowing a submarine fiber optic cable spur from the Republic of Palau to interconnect with the Southeast Asia-United States (SEA-US) cable for onward transport to Guam.

The agreement was signed by Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu and BSCC Chairman George Rechucher last week, the telco said on Tuesday.

“We are excited about the commissioning of the SEA-US Cable because of its immense benefits to the Philippines. Additionally, we are proud to be able to provide the Republic of Palau with first-world internet connectivity through this interconnection agreement,” Cu said.

Majority owned by Globe and Indonesia's Telin, the SEA-US cable system consortium will link Indonesia and the Philippines to the USA via Guam and Hawaii, in partnership with Guam's GTA, Hawaiian Telecom and RAM Telecom International.

The 14,000-kilometer cable system costs around $250 million. It consists of two fiber pairs with an initial design capacity of 20 terabits per second, using the latest in submarine fiber-optic technology with 100 gigabits per second transmission equipment per pair.

"The construction of the spur from Ngeremlengui state in Palau to the SEA-US cable to the north is well advanced, with the modular cable landing station expected to arrive at Koror this week. From there it will be transported by barge to the landing site for installation," Globe said.
 
Palau will see an increasing level of activity in the coming weeks and months, with expert teams from Sweden's Flexenclosure, the cable landing station supplier, Globe said.

Japan's NEC, the submarine cable network supplier, and the BSCC Project Management Unit are also arriving to install the equipment and ensure the highest quality standards, the telco noted.

The BSCC project is expected to be in service in December 2017, according to Globe.
 
During the Globe-BSCC signing event, Federal States of Micronesia Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Communication & Infrastructure Lukner Weilbacher signed a similar agreement with Telin's Chief Technology Officer Pak Nanang Hendarno.

Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr., Federal States of Micronesia President Peter Christian and Marshall Islands President Heine witnessed the signing of the two agreements.
 
"The said interconnection agreements provide for five 100 Gigabit per second wavelengths to Guam, more than 1,000 times the current capacity available in Palau, and will provide a big boost to businesses, schools, hospitals and clinics, government services, entertainment and social networking," Globe said. — Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News