Network

International consortium plans to build the first high-bandwidth optical fibre submarine cable system linking South East Asia and USA. Called the Asia-America Gateway (AAG), new 20,000km long cable system is expected to cost $500m and is intended to complement existing cable systems connecting North America and North Asia. Low risk route was selected for the cable so that it is away from natural disasters prone to the area such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Disasters have damaged cable systems in the past resulting in major repair bills and disruptions to international connectivity. Gateway is planned to become commercially operational by fourth quarter 2008.

Telekom Malaysia will led the 17-member consortium which comprises AT&T (USA), Bharti AirTel (India), Government of Brunei Darussalam (Brunei), British Telecom Global Network Services (UK), CAT Telekom (Thailand), Eastern Telecom (Philippines), Indosat (Indonesia), Pacific Communications (Cambodia), Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company (Philippines), PT Telkom (Indonesia), Saigon Postal Corporation (Vietnam), StarHub (Singapore), Telekom Malaysia (Malaysia), Telstra (Australia), Telecom New Zealand International (New Zealand), Viettel (Vietnam) and Vietnam Post & Telecommunications Group (Vietnam).