Huawei completes undersea cable linking Nigeria, Cameroon

Huawei Marine Networks Co. Ltd, a global submarine network provider, has announced that it has completed marine installation of the Nigeria-Cameroon Submarine Cable System (NCSCS), the undersea cable connection between the two West African nations.

The Chinese technology company considers the Nigeria-Cameroon fibre link as a major step towards system ready for service in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Huawei Marine said the NCSCS link is Cameroon’s first submarine cable with all investment provided solely by the Cameroon Government.

It will span approximately 1,100 km, marine installation of the NCSCS system began in mid-June, 2015, to provide a direct link between Kribi in Cameroon with Lagos in Nigeria.

[blockquote right=”pull-right”]“It will span approximately 1,100 km, marine installation of the NCSCS system began in mid-June, 2015, to provide a direct link between Kribi in Cameroon with Lagos in Nigeria.” [/blockquote]

According to the company, the system also incorporates branching units for future connection to Escravos and Qua Iboe in Nigeria’s Southeast region.

“NCSCS will bring an enhanced end-user experience through faster, more reliable international connectivity, which will facilitate affordable broadband services and increase broadband penetration rates throughout the region” Mike Constable, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Marine announced.

“It has paved the way for improving the communications infrastructure across Southeast Nigeria and Cameroon. Completion of NCSCS will realize phase one of Cameroon’s strategies to implement a National Broadband Network, which will enable international connectivity to Europe and beyond and significantly boost the economic and commercial development of Cameroon”, he added.

According to Huawei, the NCSCS will deliver 12.8 Tbps of capacity to broadband users in both Nigeria and Cameroon. The system utilises the world’s first titanium-cased six-fiber pair erbium-doped fiber amplifier developed by Huawei Marine. This innovative product, the result of many years of development and qualification brings the substantial advantage of being not only smaller but 40% lighter than any other erbium-doped fiber amplifier; which supports enhanced burial capability through simultaneous lay and burial beneath the seabed to reduce both marine installation costs and associated system risks.

“Huawei Marine is thrilled to have achieved this project milestone. Our teams have worked closely with our subcontractor Global Marine Systems Ltd. to deliver the system on time and to specification. We’re committed to building a global platform that services the growing needs of our diverse customers, through our innovated turnkey solutions,” Jas Dhooper, Vice President Service Delivery, Huawei Marine added.