Internode, one of the first and most enthusiastic supporters of Pipe Networks' PPC-1 cable, is taking more capacity on Southern Cross with Internode CEO Simon Hackett effusive in his praise for the system, saying it's a better proposition than PPC-1.

Nortel has successfully demonstrated its DWDM optical transmission technology that it able to deliver 40Gbps per wavelength over the 8000kms of the Southern Cross Cable system between Auckland and Hawaii.

Southern Cross Cable has announced a price cut for services on its submarine cable network linking Australia and New Zealand to the US via Hawaii, and plans to increase capacity by more than 50 percent early in 2010. It has also announced that it is planning an entire new cable system.

Alcatel-Lucent has won a contract to build the 8,200 km SPIN submarine cable network that will link New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand and with existing systems will provide an alternative trans-Tasman link. (Reported comments from John Hibbard have been changed to more accurately reflect his views)

Pipe Networks ambitious plan to build a submarine cable between Sydney and Guam is on hold after negotiations with financial backers collapsed.

Southern Cross Cable - the main link carrying much of Australia's Internet traffic to and from the US is offering its ISP customers backup capacity at no additional charge, following a recent upgrade, which has  seen the operator cut prices by at least 44 percent.

Southern Cross Cable network has installed technology from Nortel which has significantly increased the capacity of the US terrestrial component of its network and in all likelihood could be applied to the entire system.

Australia-Japan Cable has completed its capacity upgrade announced in May 2007, taking total capacity on its system to 240Gbps.

Only weeks after committing to build PPC-1, its planned submarine cable link from Sydney to Guam , Pipe Networks (ASX: PWK) has announced preliminary plans for a second cable connecting Australia to New Zealand to be build in conjunction with New Zealand communications and broadcast networks provider Kordia Group.