The Pacific Light Cable Network has made significant strides in securing key partnerships and approvals. The network has been granted approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States.
This approval was a major milestone for the project, allowing it to move forward with its plans. The Pacific Light Cable Network is a submarine communications cable that will connect the United States to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The network's partnerships with major tech companies have been crucial in its development. Companies such as Facebook and Google have partnered with the network to bring high-speed internet connectivity to the region.
Worth a look: Free Light Novel Website
Pacific Light Cable Network Updates
The Pacific Light Cable Network, a planned undersea fiber-optic cable, was initially set to connect Los Angeles to Hong Kong.
The construction of the cable began in 2016 and was expected to be completed by summer 2018 by the US companies Google, Facebook-Meta, TE SubCom, and the Chinese company Pacific Light Data Communication Co. Ltd.
Recommended read: Light Bulbs
The cable, spanning approximately 13,000 km, is estimated to have a transmission capacity of 144 Tbit/s.
Google and Facebook-Meta initially planned to own one cable pair each, while Pacific Light Data Communication Co. Ltd would own four cable pairs.
In June 2020, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) denied the activation of the cable for the connections owned by the Chinese company due to security concerns.
The FCC later approved the modified request in January 2022, allowing Google and Meta to connect Taiwan and the Philippines.
Google and Meta plan to extend their part of the infrastructure to Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam to diversify their connections to the Asian continent.
The Chinese company Dr. Peng Telecom & Media Group Co., Ltd. sold Pacific Light Data Communication Co. Ltd to the US company Meister United LLC in February 2022.
Consider reading: Google Affiliate Network
Network Development
The Pacific Light Cable Network is a submarine cable system that was initially supposed to connect Los Angeles to Hong Kong. It's a massive project with a cable length of approximately 13,000 km.
The cable was built by Google, Facebook-Meta, TE SubCom, and Pacific Light Data Communication Co. Ltd, with a planned completion date of summer 2018. However, the project's timeline has been delayed due to regulatory issues.
The Pacific Light Cable Network has a remarkable capacity of 144 Tbit/s, making it a game-changer for high-speed internet connectivity. This is a significant increase from the initial planned capacity of 120 Tbit/s.
The cable system uses advanced technology developed by SubCom, which utilizes both the C and L bands of the infrared frequency spectrum. This innovation has enabled the cable to transmit data at incredibly high speeds.
Initially, the Pacific Light Cable Network was intended to be the first direct submarine cable system connecting Hong Kong and the United States. Unfortunately, the project's plans were altered due to regulatory concerns.
In June 2020, the US Federal Communications Commission denied the cable's activation due to security concerns. The commission was worried that the cable could be used for surveillance by the Chinese government.
The Pacific Light Cable Network has finally landed in Hong Kong, marking a significant milestone in its development. The landing site is located in Deep Water Bay, Hong Kong S.A.R.
Worth a look: Cox Cable Data Usage
Investment and Partnerships
Facebook and Google have joined forces to build the Pacific Light Cable Network, a 12,800km transpacific submarine cable system that will provide a direct undersea route between Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
The project is organized by Pacific Light Data Communication Co. Ltd., a new company based in Hong Kong, and TE SubCom has been appointed lead contractor. The cable will use TE SubCom's C+L technology, which effectively doubles the available bandwidth and capacity per fiber pair over a traditional C-band-only designed system.
The Pacific Light Cable Network is expected to be the highest-capacity transpacific route to date, with an estimated cable capacity of 120Tb/s. This is a significant step forward in available cable transmission capacity.
Worth a look: Ceiling Fan Light
Pldc Acquires China Eia Approval
Pacific Light Data Communication Co., Ltd. (PLDC) has acquired China EIA approval for the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN), a significant milestone in the project's development.
PLDC is a privately owned company that was incorporated in November 2015, marking its entry into the submarine cable network scene.
This approval is a crucial step towards the commercial launch of PLCN, which is scheduled for summer 2018.
PLCN will provide the first direct undersea route between Hong Kong and Los Angeles, California, with ultra-high capacity transmission.
The cable will have an estimated capacity of 120Tb/s, making it the highest-capacity transpacific route to date.
PLCN is a joint project between PLDC and TE Subcom, a submarine cable construction firm, which signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2015.
Google and Facebook have also joined the project as co-investors, highlighting the trend of hyperscale data centre operators building their own optical network infrastructure.
This partnership is significant, as it demonstrates the trust that global technology companies have in PLDC to address the capacity needs for internet and international communications services throughout the Pacific Rim.
Google and Facebook Partner
Google and Facebook have teamed up to build the highest capacity, trans-Pacific cable system to date, the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN).
The PLCN will have an estimated cable capacity of 120 Tbps and will stretch 12,800 km between Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with a scheduled commercial launch in summer 2018.
This partnership highlights the trend towards hyperscale data centre operators building their own optical network infrastructure to ensure they have access to the capacity they need.
Google has an ownership stake in six submarine cables, including the PLCN, and this is the first public position on a transpacific cable taken by Facebook.
The cable will use TE SubCom’s C+L technology, which effectively doubles the available bandwidth and capacity per fiber pair over a traditional C-band-only designed system.
The Pacific Light Cable Network is organized by Pacific Light Data Communication Co. Ltd., a new company based in Hong Kong, and TE SubCom has been appointed lead contractor.
Google and Facebook are teaming up with privately held Pacific Light Data Communication and TE Subcom to build the Pacific Light Cable Network, or PLCN.
The new cable system will be a direct link between Los Angeles and Hong Kong, spanning some 12,800km between the two cities, potentially offering one of the lowest latencies available.
On a similar theme: New Cox Cable
The PLCN will also incorporate the latest optical technologies, which means the total theoretical capacity will be the largest transpacific route so far – up to 120Tbps in all.
Google was granted clearance by the FCC to operate the segment of the Pacific Light Cable Network System connecting the United States to Taiwan for the next six months, pending a final disposition of the license application.
The temporary authorization does not authorize any commercial traffic on the subsea cable segments to/from the Philippines or Hong Kong.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the cable used in Pacific Light Cable Network?
The Pacific Light Cable Network spans approximately 13,000 km, connecting Hong Kong and Los Angeles. This makes it one of the longest submarine cables in the world.
What is a submarine cable network?
A submarine cable network is a system of underwater cables that transmit communication signals, including data, internet services, and voice calls. It's a crucial infrastructure that connects the world's continents and enables global communication.
Featured Images: pexels.com
