Date: 21st February 2017
Event: SEA-ME-WE 5 Press Conference
Venue: Istanbul , Raffles Hotel
Submarine fiber cable system project SEA-ME-WE 5 completed; project launch hosted by Turk Telekom International in Istanbul
Submarine data cable project SEA-ME-WE 5 goes into operation connecting 17 countries
The SEA-ME-WE 5 project, one of the most important high-capacity submarine data cable consortiums in the world, is now completed. The project launch celebration event took place in Istanbul hosted by Turk Telekom and Turk Telekom International with the attendance of top executives from the 19 participating companies.
17 countries were linked together with an undersea cable in this colossal project which includes a landing station in Marmaris, Turkey managed jointly by Turk Telekom and Turk Telekom International. The 20,000-km long SEA-ME-WE 5 system is a state-of-the-art subsea cable connection between Western Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia providing the highest quality voice and data traffic with minimal transmission delay.
With the completion of this advanced and innovative project, Turkey realizes the necessary infrastructure to meet the country’s rising data demand at an initial capacity of 24 Tbps. By being part of this cutting-edge and comprehensive development, Turkey also plays a major role in covering the regional international data needs.
SEA-ME-WE 5 Management Committee Chairperson Linette Lee: “SEA-ME-WE 5 is a milestone in the telecommunications industry.”
SEA-ME-WE 5 Management Committee Chairperson Linette Lee said the following in her speech at the launch event of the project: “We are very happy to celebrate the completion of SEA-ME-WE 5 project. Thanks to the joint efforts of the consortium partners from 17 countries, we have finalized this vast infrastructure project. It is a global milestone in the telecommunications industry which will open up new opportunities for greater trade and economic growth; strengthen ties among multiple countries and people of various cultures. With its state of the art technology, SEA-ME-WE 5 presents matchless communication quality along its route from Asia to Western Europe.”
Turk Telekom International builds a data bridge for Turkey
The TTI Group’s Executive Committee Chair Mehmet C. Toros said the following: “As a subsidiary of Turk Telekom, we work to carry out our strategy of strengthening Turkey’s position as an intercontinental data bridge, constantly developing our infrastructure with our investments in Turkey and abroad. In 2014, we joined the SEA-ME-WE 5 which was part of our activities serving this goal. As the only Turkish firm representing Turkey in the SEA-ME-WE 5 consortium, we linked the Marmaris cable landing station (CLS) last year and integrated Turkey in the 20,000-km-long underwater superhighway connecting 17 countries. We are very proud to have taken another step to make Turkey a digital hub in the region and create new opportunities for our country by successfully completing this unique project.”
Goal: To make Turkey the data hub of the region
Turk Telekom International, as one of Turk Telekom’s subsidiaries, responsible for global infrastructure and market development, sales and marketing of international wholesale voice and data, was to make Turkey the data hub of the region by helping to promote Turk Telekom’s vision, Toros added, “An enormous and leading infrastructure capable of satisfying Turkey’s rapidly growing demand for data at the highest level has been built by the joint forces of the SEA-ME-WE 5 consortium members which enhances the country’s digital communication with the world. We will now be able to deliver a revolutionary solution to meet our customers’ requirements for high-capacity data communication. We are pleased to be a part of this comprehensive project to contribute to the world’s telecommunication industry by the timely completion of this submarine route relying on outstanding technological solutions. It is our great honor to host the SEA-ME-WE 5 Project Launch Ceremony Event in Istanbul and welcoming the representatives of the companies and countries participating in the project.”
SEA-ME-WE 5: With 24Tbps, one of the world’s highest-capacity fiber cable systems
Ensuring Turkey’s digital communication with the world via an undersea route, the SEA-ME-WE 5 boasts specifications adequate for the broadband-intensive apps, large volumes of corporate data exchange, IPTV and online gaming services of the future with its initial capacity of 24Tbps.
The outstanding technological properties of the SEA-ME-WE 5 project deliver first-class quality in voice and data traffic with the least latency in transmission.
The SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine fiber cable system won the “Project of the Year” for its superior technology and project management in the Global Carrier Awards in Paris in November 2016.
Bringing together 19 companies from 17 countries
In addition to Turk Telekom International (TTI) from Turkey, the project includes Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), China Mobile International (CMI), China Telecom Global (CTG), China United Network Communications Group Company Limited (CU), Djibouti Telecom (DT), Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), Myanmar Post and Telecom (MPT), Ooredoo, Orange, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel), Sparkle, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT), Telecom Egypt (TE), Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), TeleYemen, and Trans World Associates (Pvt) Limited Pakistan (TWA).