AT&T Files with FCC for TPE Cable Landing License

The Trans-Pacific Express (TPE) consortium has filed with the FCC to modify its cable-landing license to add AT&T as a licensee.

The TPE Network will directly link Mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.  AT&T will acquire a 9.43% interest in the international wet segments of the TPE submarine cable, and become a member of the TPE Consortium along with Verizon Business, China Netcom, China Telecom, China Unicom, Chunghwa Telecom and KT.

The ownership in the international wet segments of the six initial parties of the TPE consortium will be reduced from 16.66% to 15.09%. And the remaining shares will be acquired by NTT which joined TPE consortium along with AT&T. The addition of AT&T as a licensee/owner will not affect ownership in any of the landing stations or portions of the cable that connect the landing stations to international waters.

AT&T is affiliated with carriers in two of the TPE destination markets – South Korea and Taiwan — but it states that neither affiliate has market power in the destination market.

On February 28, 2008, AT&T signed the construction and maintenance agreement for TPE to become a member of TPE consortium.