Tata Comms taps into Pipe's PPC-1 cable

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 15 October 2009 06:47

IT Industry - Strategy

Tata Communications is now providing  international capacity to and from Australia via Pipe Networks' newly-opened PPC-1 cable system which interconnects with Tata's global submarine cable network in Guam.

According to Tata Communications, "The PPC-1 cable system lands directly into Tata Communications’ Guam cable landing station allowing seamless integration of the cable with the Tata Global Network (TGN).  This enables connectivity from Sydney to the rest of the world via Tata Communications’ extensive subsea cable network including TGN-Intra Asia to the Asian region, and TGN-Pacific for onward connectivity from Japan to the USA."

Tata Communications, then VSNL, played a key role in the genesis of PPC-1. Speaking at the launch of the system earlier this month, Pipe CEO, Bevan Slattery,  recounted how Pipe's discussions with VSNL, and VSNL's early involvement, had been crucial to his company's decision to build the cable.

"[Pipe director Steve Baxter] and I had a meeting with Simon Cooper [now vice president, international network development, Tata Communications] in Singapore in September 2006 and we explained our plan about creating competition [in the Australian market for international cable capacity]. It was a revelation. Simon said 'We like that plan, we will support it, We will give you space in our landing station. We will do everything we can to make this project a success.' And from that point Project Runway as it then was took off."

The Tata Global Network includes the TGN Atlantic, TGN Western Europe, TGN Northern Europe, TGN Pacific, TGN Intra Asia, and TGN-TIC subsea cable systems. Tata is also a partner in consortium cables including SEACOM, SE-ME-WE-3, SE-ME-WE-4, SAFE/SAT 3 and APCN 2. The company claims to be the world’s largest carrier of voice traffic.