TOKYO, JAPAN --- NTT Communications (NTT Com) today announced that it signed a construction and maintenance agreement to participate in a consortium building a new optical fiber cable system – the Trans-Pacific Express Cable Network (TPE) – that will link Japan, Mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States. 

TPE, a new submarine cable network that will use cutting-edge technology, is being built jointly by a consortium that now consists of NTT Com, AT&T, China Netcom (CNC), China Telecom (CT), China Unicom, Chungwha Telecom (CHT), KT and Verizon Business (Verizon).

In the fourth quarter of 2006 the six original consortium participants – CNC, CT, China Unicom, CHT, KT and Verizon – began constructing the southern route, which will direct link the United States and Asia, including Mainland China, South Korea and Taiwan, when it is scheduled to become operational in August 2008. The northern route transiting Japan will be developed under the project’s second phase; the Japan-Asia section will become operational during the first quarter of 2009, followed by the Japan-U.S. section, completion of which is expected in early 2010.

The cable network will be more than 18,000 kilometers in length and have a maximum transmission capacity of 5.12 terabits per second.

NTT Com will establish and fully manage a new landing station in Japan at a site located near the Tokyo metropolitan area. The landing station will provide flexible connectivity to other major submarine cables in the region.

Attachment: Trans-Pacific Express Cable Route

About NTT Communications
NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) provides information and communications technology (ICT) solutions worldwide with dedicated professionals stationed in 21 countries. Renowned as an IPv6 technology pioneer and managed service expert, NTT Com offers diverse high-quality IP, Web-based, and managed network solutions combining network management, security, ubiquitous, Web portals/engines, and global services. Its world-class Tier 1 Internet backbone and secure closed networks with over 98,000 MPLS ports, combined with the networks of partner companies around the world, connect more than 200 countries. The company earned non-consolidated revenues exceeding one trillion yen (about US$10 billion) in fiscal 2006 ended March 31, 2007. NTT Com started as a long-distance phone company in 1999 after the reorganization of the NTT Group, and is the wholly-owned subsidiary of NTT, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies. NTT is listed in Japan, London and New York stock exchanges. Please visit www.ntt.com