Pipe Networks lights its PPC-1 submarine cable

Stuart Corner
Monday, 24 August 2009 08:51

IT Industry - Strategy

Pipe Networks has successfully transmitted light from Sydney to Guam across its just-installed PPC-1 submarine cable.

Pipe Networks CEO, Bevan Slattery, said: "The passing of first light represents the physical completion of the PPC-1 system and the commencement of the testing phase in the development programme. It also confirms that we have persevered through some of the most difficult of circumstances, including the global financial crisis, and achieved something that many said could never be done and would never be done."

He added: "This milestone has only been possible with the vision and support of our cornerstone customers including Telikom PNG, iiNet and Internode and the dedication and commitment of the Pipe International team and [primary supplier] Tyco Telecommunications.

"We now have staff in Sydney, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Tokyo and San Jose establishing PoPs and preparing for the testing of the greater network. It's now a race to finish these final works in the lead up to the official launch of PPC-1 on the 8th October, 2009."

Pipe had initially intended to use mostly debt financing led by the ANZ band to fund rollout of the cable, but that fell through as a result of the global financial crisis and in December last year Pipe was forced to put the entire project on-hold indefinitely .

Less than three weeks later it announced that the project was back on track thanks to its main supplier, Tyco Telecommunications, and an unnamed key customer agreeing to, respectively, defer and advance scheduled payments.