Tyco Telecommunications, a business unit of Tyco Electronics and an industry pioneer in undersea communications technology, has successfully transmitted a signal at 40 Gigabits per second from Japan to the USA. The test was conducted using dark fibers on the existing Tata Communications TGN-Pacific submarine cable system that links Tokyo to multiple USA West Coast city PoPs.

The data was carried from Toyohashi, Japan to Los Angeles without the need for regeneration. The demonstration marks the next step in the ongoing progression of undersea cable data rates and will ultimately enable such undersea cable systems to carry more capacity over existing links.

“We view this development as a significant milestone in the evolution of undersea cable transmission capability,” said Dr. Seymour Shapiro, vice president, research and development and chief technology officer of Tyco Telecommunications. “40G transmission is clearly the next standard for long-haul transmission, including undersea.”

In this field trial, a 40Gb/s signal was transmitted across two segments of Tata Communications’ TGN network for a total of 11,000 km of undersea repeatered cable without regeneration. The path ran error-free over the entire three day measurement period. In a second experiment, a 40Gb/s data stream was looped back at the Los Angeles and Toyohashi terminals, so that the signal made four trips across the Pacific for a total transmission distance of 44,000 km.

“The success of this field trial was made possible largely due to the top-notch support and cooperation by both the Tata Communications and Tyco Telecommunications teams, and demonstrates that our TGN submarine cable network is capable of delivering native 40G transport. This can help us deliver another option to our customers, from both the service capability and the cost effectiveness points of view.” said John Hayduk, chief technology officer, Tata Communications.

“The deployment of 40G on undersea cable systems will be made possible by the confluence of 40G build-outs on terrestrial links and the availability of long-reach 40G transponders,” said William Marra, vice president and general manager of Tyco Telecommunications. “As higher bit rates become more prevalent in the terrestrial market, these services will naturally be required on undersea cables. Over the next year we expect to see 40Gb/s deployments starting with short ‘regional’ systems, which will be followed by transoceanic build-outs. This successful field trial illustrates how dedicated Tyco Telecommunications is to its existing customer base. We chose to demonstrate that the systems we have designed for 10Gb/s transport are not obsolete; that in fact, 40Gb/s terrestrial signals will seamlessly interface into the longest undersea infrastructure systems operating today.”

Tata Communications, a member of the $62.5 billion Tata Group, is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. The emerging markets communications leader leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national and Indian enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

Tata Communications’ range of services include transmission, IP, converged voice, mobility, managed network connectivity, hosting and storage, managed security, managed collaboration and business transformation for global enterprises and service providers, as well as Internet, retail broadband and content services for Indian consumers. The Tata Global Network encompasses one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries across 400 Pops, and more than 1 million square feet of data center and co-location facilities.

Tata Communications’ unique emerging market depth and breadth of reach includes a national fiber backbone network and access to network in over 60 cities and 125 Pops in India, strategic investments in South African converged services operator, Neotel, Sri Lanka and Nepal and, subject to fulfillment of conditions precedent, a 50% ownership in China Enterprise Communications (CEC) providing full country VPN coverage in China.

Servicing customers from its offices in over 80 cities in 40 countries, Tata Communications is the number one global international wholesale voice operator and number one provider of international long distance, enterprise data and Internet services in India, the Company was named “Best Wholesale Carrier” at the World Communications Awards in 2006, “Best Pan-Asian Wholesale Provider” at the 2006 and 2007 Capacity Magazine Global Wholesale Telecommunications Awards and was awarded “Best Progress in Emerging Markets” at the 2008 Mobile Communication Awards.

Tata Communications Limited along with its global subsidiaries, (“Tata Communications”), is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. (NYSE: TCL)

Tyco Telecommunications, a business unit of Tyco Electronics and an industry pioneer in undersea communications technology and marine services, is a leading global supplier for today’s undersea communications requirements.

Drawing on its heritage of technical innovation and industry recognized performance, the company delivers the most reliable, high-quality solutions to organizations with undersea communications needs vital to their core mission. In more than five decades of operation, Tyco Telecommunications has designed, manufactured, and installed more than 80 undersea fiber optic systems around the world. Tyco Telecommunications’ global presence, backed by industry leading research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities, installation and maintenance ships, depots, and management team work together to implement integrated solutions and network upgrades, with unsurpassed reliability, that support the needs of telecommunications, internet providers, offshore and science customers worldwide.

For more information visit www.tycotelecom.com.