Bharti, global telecom cos to build Asia-US link

To meet the burgeoning growth in telecommunications traffic, major global telecommunications companies along with Bharti Airtel have signed an agreement in Kuala Lumpur to build the first high bandwidth optical fiber submarine cable system from South East Asia directly to the US. The cable system, known as the Asia-America Gateway (AAG), will be built at a cost of about $560 million.

The birth of AAG cable system will compliment existing high bandwidth cable systems in the region. In addition, the AAG cable system will provide the much-needed diversity against traditional routes to the US, mainly carrying broadband traffic. This is important considering recent earthquakes that took out almost all cable systems in the region.

The cable project is spearheaded by 17 telecommunications companies namely, AiTi, AT&T, BayanTel, Bharti, BT Global Network Services, CAT Telecom, ETPI, Maxis, PCP Company, PLDT, Saigon Postal Corporation, StarHub, Telekom Malaysia, Telstra, TNZL, Viettel and VNPT.

David Nishball, president (enterprise services), Airtel said, "This investment is in line with our strategy to extend our international footprint and focus on connecting our customers in India to Asia and the Americas."

The AAG cable system is designed to provide upgradeable, future proof transmission facilities that support Internet and e-commerce.