JUNE 28, 2007 -- Brasil Telecom GlobeNet (search for Globenet) and IT International Telecom say they have completed a cable reburial project securing the New Jersey-to-Bermuda section of GlobeNet's dual-ring fiber network.
This section of the cable network runs along the Continental Shelf, ranging from 20 to 600 m in depth, in an area known for a significant amount of commercial fishing activity. To ensure continued network security, GlobeNet and its wet cable maintenance provider IT Telecom reburied this fiber-optic cable segment to ensure the subsea cable is protected from anchors and trawling, which are common reasons for underwater cable faults.
"As a result of this cable reburial, uptime of the lowest latency segment of our network ring will be significantly higher," states Luis Mario Alonso, director of operations and network engineering for GlobeNet. "This initiative is an example of our company's constant commitment to protecting our network assets and minimizing any potential problems for the end users on our network."
Dan Lundrigan, maintenance manager for IT International Telecom, has worked closely with Brasil Telecom GlobeNet, helping them evaluate and determine the best way to further add protection to their cable segment. "We worked with our client to assess the original burial data and installation techniques and to compare this data with the prior and potentially future cable exposures over a four-year period," continues Lundrigan. "We also evaluated and recorded fishing activity near the cable and the information was overlaid onto our charts of the system to engineer a suitable solution. We are proud of the new reburial and look forward to our continued maintenance relationship with GlobeNet."
During the reburial process, a new cable segment was installed along a 72-km stretch by plowing into the Atlantic seabed, parallel to the existing cable. This new cable segment was then attached to the existing line and vigorously tested. Upon completion of the projects, traffic was transferred securely to the new segment. The newly installed and buried cable route now avoids contact with commercial fishing gear and provides a new level of reliability for the network.
"There was no service interruption during the entire cable reburial and installation process. We successfully re-routed our customers' traffic between New Jersey and Bermuda for the duration of the installation," states Marc Fortin, project manager, GlobeNet. "Our trained engineering team ensured that our end users were not impacted in any way. Also, this reburial will help ensure continued lowest latency delivery of network services in the future."
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