Asian cable network deal signed

A deal to build a cable network linking Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand has been signed, to try to meet growing demand for telecom links in the region.

A plan to construct and maintain the network was agreed by Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), the Communications Authority of Thailand and PT Telekommunikas Indonesia.

The consortium also signed a contract with NEC to begin building the Thailand-Indonesia-Singapore (TIS) network.

"Currently, there are only a few cable networks that connect Indonesia and Thailand to the rest of Asia, and only APCN (Asia Pacific Cable Network) and SMW 3 (South-East-Asia, Middle-East, Western-Europe) link Singapore and the other two countries directly," said Ng Seng Sum, head of SingTel International Network.

Ready in a year

"To ease the expected traffic bottleneck, it is important that the three carriers have come together to plan ahead to meet future demand."

"It is also the perfect time to undertake a new cable project as we are able to leverage on the industry downturn to achieve substantial cost-savings with suppliers." he added.

The 1,000 kilometre-long TIS network is expected to be ready for service by the end of 2003.

The cable network will land in Songhla in Thailand, Changi in Singapore and Batam in Indonesia.