WiredInUSA September 2019

“Green” for safety

Cook Islands cable continues on course

Safety-enhanced eco-friendly cables from LS Cable LS Cable and System believes the current standards for fire-resistant cables in South Korea are lower than those in other advanced countries. In response to this, LS Cable has launched a series of safety- enhanced eco-friendly cables. The new HFIX+ cables are designed for greater fire resistance; the company says the cables will emit less toxic gas, when exposed to fire, than existing polyvinyl chloride cables. The new “green” cables are engineered to function at high temperatures, withstanding up to 1,050º Celsius for two hours. HFIX+ cables will also be used to reduce pollution at facility docks by supplying electricity to ships. Where ships in port use electricity generated by their own engines it creates smoke, and reduces air quality.

Photo by Umberto on Unsplash

Avaroa Cable Ltd, the state-owned enterprise established by the Cook Islands’ government to manage and operate the Manatua Cable project, is halfway through its manufacture of the 3,600km fiber. The fiber optic cable, with six branches for landings across Polynesia and with 32 repeaters, is under construction at a specialist facility in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is scheduled for completion and final testing in September 2019, after which it will be taken by ship to the South Pacific. Cable laying will start in Apia, Samoa, later in the year. Preparation work is continuing in the Cook Islands with the construction of two cable landing stations, one each on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, with contracts in place for the cable land routes. The Trans Polynesian Information Superhighway is on target to be live in May 2020. The cable will operate at up to 10 terabits per second.

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wiredInUSA September 2019