Trident to deploy PoPs in Global Switch

Trident Subsea Cable will deploy transmission equipment in Global Switch facilities in Sydney and Singapore to make it easier for customers to connect to its forthcoming Perth-Singapore cable.

It's the first deal struck to deploy points of presence (PoPs) for the new cable, which is anticipated to be ready for service in mid-2018, according to a statement issued today. 

Trident is currently involved in a final round of capital raising via Perth's Azure Capital under a deal revealed late last month.

Executive general manager of networks and technology Paul Brooks told iTnews the PoPs would enable access seekers in Global Switch to connect to the Trident network in Sydney and Singapore "for just the cost of a local crossconnect patch cable".

"Traditionally submarine cables are built to a cable landing station and customers that want to use capacity then need to find access arrangements to the cable landing station, and ideally that involves being able to use a multitude of different fibre carriers," Brooks said.

"But it's more and more common to extend the network beyond the cable landing station into major carrier-neutral data centres and that makes it easier for customers to connect to the network. "

Trident will also take care of the backhaul across Australia from the Perth landing station to major east coast data centres, Brooks said.

"Customers with gear in Global Switch in Singapore and Sydney will be able to use a local crossconnect cable to connect to our equipment in both locations, and we can take care of the whole thing end-to-end including the backhaul and subsea [portions]."

Brooks said Trident had a "bulk capacity agreement" in place on an unnamed trans-Australia network that would haul traffic to and from the cable landing station in Perth.

The agreement to host PoPs in Global Switch is just the first planned by Trident.

"We'll certainly have gear in a number of other locations as well, but Global Switch has facilities in both key locations and traffic centres where our customers want to get to, so it makes sense to do Global Switch as the first cab off the rank," Brooks said.

Trident's cable will consist of four fibre-pairs, each carrying multiple 100Gbps optical channels with the ability to be upgraded 400Gbps optical channels, the company said.

One of Trident's key differentiators from other planned cables on the Perth-Singapore route is its intention to deploy a branching unit off north-west Western Australia to service the mines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) operators in that area.