Internode tests Pipe's sub cable, promises early customer benefits

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 22 September 2009 07:41

IT Industry - Strategy

Internode has become the first customer to test Pipe Networks' new PPC-1 fibre-optic cable, ahead of its official launch and is promising to revise its access plans to reflect PPC-1's lower connection costs to the US.

Internode says it gained access to its PPC-1 circuit on 21 September and has already conducted successful end-to-end packet flow tests between Australia and the US. PPC-2 runs from Sydney to Guam where it interconnects with other cables to provide links to the US and beyond.

Internode managing director Simon Hackett said PPC-1 had passed its first tests with flying colours. "PPC-1 has successfully demonstrated its performance by allowing Internode to send Internet Protocol (IP) packets end to end between Sydney and the US via Guam... Internode now has full confidence in the fibre-optic cable's readiness for official handover to foundation commercial customers, including Internode, on October 8."

Internode says it plans to revise a number of its Internet access plans after the official launch of PPC-1. "As well as putting downward pressure on international data transit prices, the PPC-1 link creates additional redundancy for Internode's data paths to the US," the company said. Once it has integrated the PPC-1 link into its network, Internode expects the PIPE cable to carry as much as one third of its total international data traffic.

Pipe Networks said that since PPC-1 carried its first optical signal on 23 August 2009, Pipe and the system's builder, Tyco, have been undertaking a rigorous testing regime on the system including full capacity testing, commissioning and acceptance testing of the submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE) and power feed equipment (PFE), and in the past week exhaustive confidence trials. "With these trials now nearing completion, PPC-1 has also been able to interconnect onward capacity from Tata Telecommunications to create end-to-end connectivity between Australia and the United States for testing," Pipe said.