ASC International has kicked off a project to build a 4,800km cable linking Western Australia with Singapore.
ASC (Australia Singapore Cable), a subsidiary of Australian project development and contracting company Leighton, has commissioned Alcatel-Lucent to build the multi-terrabit cable.
The cableco said it will have an option to upgrade the cable to 100Gbps, which would make it the first 100Gbps connection between Western Australia and South East Asia. It will use D+ fiber, giving it an ultimate capacity of 16Tbps if the 100Gbps option is taken.
The cable will land in Western Australia at state capital Perth, and travel through Indonesia's Sunda Straight.
Leighton will use the terrestrial fiber operated by another subsidiary, NextGen Networks, to transport traffic to Sydney, allowing it to provide international wholesale services on both the east and west coasts.
The key subsea cables running into Australia – the Southern Cross Cable (SXC) and Australia-Japan Cable (AJC) – both land in Sydney.
ASC expects construction to commence in the first quarter of 2012, and plans to start commercial operation in 2013.
Alcatel-Lucent said the contract is worth “several million dollars,” and is for a turnkey installation of cable, repeaters, branching units, power feeding equipment and line terminals.