TPE Cable System Overview

The Trans-Pacific Express (or TPE) submarine cable system is the second subsea cable system directly linking China and the USA (China-US CN), aims to offer high capacity between the USA and China as well as other Asian countries and regions, to support future Internet growth and applications such as video and e-commerce. Unlike the other trans-pacific subsea cable systems which make Japan as a hub for traffic between the USA and Asia countries, the TPE cable system enables an alternative and direct routes between China, Korea, Taiwan and the USA.

System Profile

Cable System:

• TPE, Trans-Pacific Express

Cable Length:

• 18,066 Km for the whole cable system
• 10,600 Km between China (Chongming CLS) and the USA

Design Capacity:

• 5.12 Tbps (operating at unprotected DWDM of 10 Gbps per wavelength)

Lit Capacity:

• 1.28 Tbps

Ready for Service Date:

• September 30, 2008

Investment Type:

• Consortium

Initial Investment:

• US$ 500 million

Owner(s):

6 initial parties and 2 follow-ups, including:

• China Unicom
• China Netcom (acquired by China Unicom in Oct., 2008)
• China Telecom
• Chungwa Telecom
• Korea Telecom
• Verizon Business
• NTT (joined later in March 2008)
• AT&T(joined later in March 2008)

Landing Stations:

• Chongming, China, China Telecom
• Qingdao, China, China Unicom (China Netcom)
• Nedonna Beach (Hillsboro), Oregon, USA, Verizon Business
• Keoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Korea, Korean Telecom
• Tanshui, Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom
• Shin Maruyama, Japan, NTT

Vendor:

• Tyco