Global Cloud Xchange plans trans-Pacific submarine cable network

Global Cloud Xchange, formerly Reliance Globalcom, says it plans to build a new submarine cable network between Tokyo and Silicon Valley. The undersea cable system, which will have an initial capacity of 100x100 Gbps per fiber pair, should be operational next year, the company expects.

Dubbed Pacific Cloud Xchange (PCX), the four-fiber-pair submarine network will address a growth in trans-Pacific connectivity demand that Telegeography’s latest Global Bandwidth Forecast Service report states will grow at a compounded annual rate (CAGR) of 34% between now and 2020.

“The cable with its open architecture and flexible landing station technology will allow companies to rent and own subsea capacity from speeds of 10 Mbps to 100-gig between Silicon Valley and key technology centers in Asia and India,” said Bill Barney, CEO, Global Cloud Xchange. “With flexible access speeds and open co-location, the system will be designed to allow startups and smaller cloud operators to buy and rent fiber affordably in a scalable model.”

The submarine system will leverage coherent transmission technology and what Global Cloud Xchange described as “next-generation Coherent Submarine Fiber.” Global Cloud Xchange says the suppliers of these technologies are being finalized; a supply contract should be announced during the second quarter of this year.

“The new fiber system, which runs approximately 8300 km between Japan (Tokyo) and California (Silicon Valley), will create a next generation IP and cloud environment held together with a single AS number and connecting into Tier III+ data center facilities on the ground,” Barney added.

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.