Seaborn and IOX Cable to deliver undersea cable route between the U.S. and India

Seaborn Networks and IOX Cable Ltd. say they have agreed to create an undersea cable route between the U.S and India by linking together three submarine networks. According to Seaborn, the result will provide the first next-generation subsea fiber-optic route between the U.S and India interconnecting in South Africa and Brazil.

The three undersea systems involved are Seaborn's Seabras-1 and SABR and the IOX cable system that is currently in the route survey stage. Unlike alternative routes, the proposed submarine network combination will link the U.S. with three BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries and Mauritius, says Seaborn. The route will offer a reliable, secure pathway between these markets by minimizing hops through various countries, the company adds.

The IOX submarine cable system is touted as the first next-generation subsea network linking South Africa, Mauritius, and India. Last week IOX revealed it will partner with Alcatel Submarine Networks to begin work on the cable route survey for the system (see "IOX Cable and Alcatel begin IOX cable route survey").

Seaborn's Seabras-1 submarine network connects São Paulo and New York (see "Seabras-1 submarine network operational with Infinera XTS-3300 meshponders"). Seaborn recently agreed to link this submarine cable infrastructure with Aqua Comms DAC, which operates America-Europe Interconnect-1 (AEConnect; see "Seaborn Networks, Aqua Comms join for submarine network connection between South America and Europe").

SABR is a new undersea system between Cape Town, South Africa, and Seabras-1 that Seaborn expects will be ready for service in 2019. Seaborn's SABR and the IOX System will interconnect in South Africa.

"This new relationship between Seaborn and IOX pioneers new global route alternatives to interconnect key emerging markets with the U.S.," said Arunachalam Kandasamy, IOX founder and CEO. "This strategic relationship is a step forward for us to give our customers and partners the best routes and services and also contribute to the emerging digital economies."

Available through Seaborn and IOX, customers can contract through either Seaborn or IOX for access to the combined Seabras-1, SABR and IOX System route.

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