French company Nexans has been awarded a major contract to supply around 440 kilometers of fiber optic submarine cable for a project which will connect Libya with Greece.
The high-profile communications link across the Mediterranean Sea is being constructed by Chinese company Huawei Marine Networks Co Ltd on behalf of the Libyan International Telecom Company (LITC). The cable will connect Damah, in northern Libya, with Chania, Greece.
The cable will have an initial capacity of 7×10 Gbps and a maximum theoretical capacity of 1.2 Tbps. The cable will be installed at depths of up to 3,700 meters and consequently will only require relatively light armoring.
The new cable will provide route protection for Libya’s existing international communication channels. It will also offer bandwidth to help satisfy increasing demand for multinational communications.
Nexans Vice President Tom Birkeland said, “This very significant submarine cable contract in the Mediterranean Sea is the result of almost a year’s careful planning between Nexans and Huawei Marine.”
“It reinforces the successful cooperation between the two companies developed over a number of high profile projects such as the Hannibal link between Tunisia and Italy and the T-E project connecting the coastal cities of Libya, Tobruk and Emasaed,” he added.
Sallie Pisch
Submarine cable networks are increasing all over the world. Yesterday there was news from Alcatel about SEA-ME-WE4 expansion to 40G.