Aqua Comms: Surveys to begin for North Atlantic Loop submarine network Irish Sea and North Sea segments
Submarine network operator Aqua Comms DAC, which owns America Europe Connect-1 (AEC-1) and CeltixConnect-1 (CC-1), says that survey work on its North Atlantic Loop submarine network project is about to begin. The initiative is part of a larger effort that includes construction of America Europe Connect-2 (AEC-2), Aqua Comms’ share of the HAVFRUE undersea cable network that will connect New Jersey with Ireland, Denmark and Norway (see “HAVFRUE consortium targets transatlantic submarine cable system”).
The North Atlantic Loop comprises a pair of submarine cables. CeltixConnect-2 (CC-2) is an Irish Sea cable between Dublin and Blackpool; North Sea Connect (NSC) is a North Sea cable between Newcastle and Denmark. The two submarine systems will combine with existing infrastructure to create a ring-based network to provide connectivity among mainland Europe, the UK, Ireland with an onward path to the U.S.
Aqua comms says it will offer leased and ownership services on the two new cables from all landing stations and from carrier-neutral, metro points of presence (PoPs) in Dublin, Manchester, Newcastle, and Esbjerg/Copenhagen. The link to Denmark will more than double the fiber connectivity to Denmark, Aqua Comms asserts.
The network operator says survey vessels for CC-2 and NSC “have started mobilization.” Detailed manufacturing plans for the cables should be confirmed with the selected contractor within the next few weeks, the company adds; TE SubCom, a TE Connectivity Ltd. Co. (NYSE: TEL), is at least supplying systems for HAVFRUE. Aqua Comms expects the cables to be ready for service in late 2019.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy has covered fiber optics for more than 15 years, and communications and technology for more than 30 years. He is responsible for establishing and executing Lightwave's editorial strategy across its digital magazine, website, newsletters, research and other information products. He has won multiple awards for his writing.
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