Good morning readers.  Today SubTel Today is attending the Arctic Fibre DGM.  Presenters will include:

Doug Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Fibre Inc.

Mike Cunningham, Chief Operating Officer of Arctic Fibre Inc.

Elizabeth Pierce, Chief Executive Officer of Quintillion Networks

The meeting will announce any new and relevant information regarding the production of the first cable to connect London to Tokyo via the Northwest Passage.  Arctic Fibre as a concept has only become possible in the last few years because of the changing climate, creating a larger time window in which a willing company could lay the cable.  Even then, that window is only a handful of weeks, making this a particularly challenging endeavor.

When presentations begin, new information and quotes will be added to this post.

“We've been responding to many customer demands,” says Doug Cunningham.  Many of the changes to the system plan have been made to cater to the many small communities that the cable will pass by.

“It is probably going to be one of the safest cables in the world,” says Cunningham.  Given that the majority of dangers to cables come from the human presence, the lack of any people in the harsh conditions of the arctic actually improves survivability.

Among the fibre pairs, says Cunningham, there are a few notable features.  They avoid trouble fishing spots.  Two fibre pairs avoid landing on US soil, bypassing FCC and taxation by the US.  They avoid political hotspots like a terrestrial crossing in Egypt.

Partners include:

TE Subcom

Ledcor Group

AECOM Technology

WFN Strategies

Mike Cunningham takes the stage and begins talking about the Transpacific route.  “It allows us to make a ring around Alaska,” which taps a previously untouched market.  “The municipal market there is paying 32 thousand dollars for T1 capacity.”  This makes a new connection very attractive.

Arctic Fibre was approached to consider building into Tomakomai of northern island of Hokkaido, says Cunningham.  There will also be a branch into Ireland.  “The data center there is very attractive.”

Landing Points have changed, allowing the cutting down of a large portion of cable.

First phase is Arctic network and the second phase is the international network.

The Final speaker, Elizabeth Pierce, begins speaking on the unique characteristics of the Alaska Market.  “As the arctic opens up… defense and homeland security becomes important.”

Landing points of Arctic Fibre will include: Nome, Kotzebue, Point Hope, Wainwright, Prudhoe Bay, and more.

“Bringing in a fibre solution to these rural markets is an important factor,” says Pierce.

“Our longterm goal is to build off these landing points,” says Pierce.  She hopes to work with the Alaska natives to extend to connection to all the communities that have lived in the area since before European intervention.

Quintillion has accepted two Alaskan companies as equity investors, which will be announced at a later time.

 

New announcements will be made in about five weeks.