G. S. Evans
EGS (Asia) Ltd, Singapore

The Integrated Approach to the Planning, Survey and Design of Secure Submarine Fibre Optic Telecommunications Systems

Abstract
Rapid advances in submarine fibre optic telecommunications cable technology since the first fibre optical telecommunications system was installed in 1987, has resulted in ever increasing circuit capacity, from 280 Mbps in the case of TAT 8, to 5 Gbps in systems like APCN. The advent of optical amplifiers has given the possibility of system capacity upgrades, increased repeater distances and further increases in bit rate. Results of these technological trends have dramatically reduced the cost per circuit and made possible the development of unrepeatered systems for national and regional applications.

The substantial investment in advanced high capacity system technology, resulting in a vast increase in potential traffic volume and attendant revenue, has emphasised the need for system security. While security is of great importance for the entire cable system, protection of cables where they cross continental shelves is particularly critical due to their vulnerability to a variety of hazards, a fact supported by research in Europe which shows that in excess of 70% of submarine system unavailability is due to third party damage on the continental shelf. This situation has increasingly led system owners to require 100% cable burial to protect their investments in these areas.

This paper examines the critical and changing role of the route survey from desk study to final survey report in the planning and design of properly protected and secure under sea cable systems. The importance of integrated study concepts in route planning and survey are discussed with particular emphasis on survey specification and the integration of the cross discipline skills of geoscientists, surveyors, cable engineers and installers to determine optimum system burial and security. Integrated study concepts in action are provided using a number of South East Asian examples.