Mauritius-based IOX Cable and Nokia subsidiary Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) have started planning a submarine cable system that would connect India and South Africa, passing through the Islands of La Réunion, Rodrigues and Mauritius.

The pair have begun the terrain survey necessary to eventually start the cable-laying process, which they say will turn the Indian Ocean islands into gateways between Asia and Africa by improving local connectivity, or, as stated by ASN president Philippe Piron, “a new alternative path for connecting Asia and Africa and onwards to Europe and the USA.”

Testing the waters

IOX cable map
– IOX

The survey consists in the mapping of the seabed’s topology using geophysical and hydrographic tools to collect the necessary data to design and engineer the final installation, ensuring the fastest possible connection.

Amongst other things, contracted surveyors check for potential drawbacks such as high-risk seismic zones and shallow gas pockets, and perform faunal analyses to avoid excessive environmental disruption.

Nokia Submarine Networks will supply its 1620 Softnode submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE) and ROADM branching unit to serve the cable’s multiple destinations, and ASN will provide optical amplification with its undersea repeaters as well as administering system management software.

ASN will manage the infrastructure deployment and design as well as marine operations and will deal with all aspects of project commissioning.

The 8,850km (5500 miles) IOX Cable System will be designed to reach speeds of up to 54TB/s or 13TB/s per fiber pair.