Qatar: GBI Undersea Cable System Achieves Ready for Service Status

Gulf Bridge International (GBI), the Middle East’s first privately owned, regional cable operator, and TE SubCom, a TE Connectivity Ltd. Company and an industry pioneer in undersea communications technology, announced they have achieved the status of ready for service for the GBI undersea cable system.

The system, which will deliver much-needed capacity to the Gulf region, connects Qatar, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia in a ring configuration, with onward connectivity to India and Europe and additional connectivity to follow in the coming months.

“Achieving this status for our cable system puts GBI one step closer toward accomplishing our mission to connect the world to the Gulf,” said Ahmed Mekky, Board Member and CEO, GBI. “Our high capacity system addresses increasing demand and will foster economic and social growth throughout all Gulf countries.”

The GBI cable system will enable future network expansion. With a capacity of at least 5.18 terabits, the system will encourage a greater sophistication of telecommunications service offerings. Further, the system’s configuration as a self-healing ring will provide a high quality of service.

“We join GBI in marking the completion of its large scale project, which was constructed with our proprietary undersea OADM switching technology, which enhances network resiliency and flexibility,” said Debra Brask, Managing Director, TE SubCom. “The GBI system will immediately redefine connectivity in the Gulf region, as it links three continents and provides a crucial technological advancement to previously underserved countries.”

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Subsea World News Staff , February 20, 2012;  Image: GBI