Named GigNet-1, the new system has been in development for the past two years and is due to go live in 2022. According to FB Submarine Partners this will be the first new subsea cable from Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula in over 20 years and has been designed to meet growing demands for increased bandwidth.
So far the project has seen the completion of its desktop route survey, regulatory and permitting feasibility studies in both Florida and Mexico, as well as market demand and analysis studies, and selection and contracting of key suppliers for the design, equipment and installation of the system. The next steps of the cable development include carrying out a marine route survey in March 2021.
FB Submarine Partners will partner GigNet Inc, a fibre optic network operator and provider of subsidiary of GigNet S.A. de C.V to access the beach in Cancun and for colocation in GigNet’s Cancun cable landing station. GigNet will also serve as a major tenant on the new system and will provide IP transit and private line connectivity with GigNet-1 throughout the region.
Michael Mahoney, CTO at GigNet confirmed that the company has selected Xtera, a developer of subsea network deployments, to serve as the primary EPC contractor for the project. Specifically, Xtera will provide the subsea “wetplant” comprised of the fibre and amplifiers (repeaters), the submarine line terminals in Florida and Mexico, and will manage the installation.
IT International Telecom, a developer of subsea cable systems, provided the desktop route survey and provide the marine route survey for the project and in partnership with Xtera will install the GigNet-1 cable system.
“I truly believe we have assembled an incredible team of experts and partners that will result in the deployment of this cable system on time and on budget,” said Mahoney.
“The economic impact of this new subsea cable to the economic development of Quintana Roo and Yucatan will be extraordinary.”
