Here is the video that was used in the launch.

PIPE INTERNATIONAL AND TYCO TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPLETE PPC-1 UNDERSEA CABLE SYSTEM: System to Link Australia to Guam, Generate Increased Competition in Australian Market

PIPE International, a fully owned subsidiary of PIPE Networks Limited (ASX: PWK), and Tyco Telecommunications, a business unit of Tyco Electronics and an industry pioneer in undersea communications technology, today announced they have completed the PPC-1 cable system.  The completion of the 6,900 km system linking Sydney to Guam will provide enhanced connectivity to the region and ultimately lower capacity costs by generating increased competition in the Australian undersea cable market.  "The on-schedule completion of PPC-1 marks a huge technological advancement for Australia," said Bevan Slattery, PIPE Networks CEO.  "We are proud to have successfully accomplished what many in the industry doubted could be done.  Further, we are confident this system will provide Australia with the bandwidth and competition needed to enhance both personal communications and international business efforts."

With a capacity of 2.56 terabits per second over two fiber pairs and 40 Gbs/sec capable, the PPC-1 system will provide diversity to the few existing routes in the region, in addition to onward connectivity to Asia and the United States.

"It is our sincere pleasure to congratulate PIPE on the successful completion of the PPC-1 cable system," said David Coughlan, Tyco Telecommunications President.  "Through unwavering cooperation and a mutual respect for each other and the tasks at hand, our companies were able to complete a challenging project in a timely fashion.  As a result, Australia will benefit for many years to come from a robust system that is comprised of the industry's most advanced subsea equipment."

About Tyco Telecommunications

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 100 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.

About PIPE Networks

PIPE Networks Limited (ASX: PWK) is a leading facilities-based telecommunications service provider in Australia.  The company owns the third largest metropolitan fibre optic network in Australia connecting to key strategic IT infrastructure locations.

Since its inception in 2002, the company has delivered sustainable revenue and profitability growth by offering reliable and cost effective dark fibre, managed ethernet, telehousing and peering products to internet service providers (ISPs), corporate customers and Government departments.  For further information please visit www.pipenetworks.com.

 

Contacts:

Bevan Slattery

Managing Director

+61 7 3233 9800

media@pipenetworks.com

 

Courtney McDaniel

Tyco Telecommunications

+1 973 656 8000

info@tycotelecom.com

 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - The final countdown to the launch has begun.  Anticipation is building prior to the launch.  There is less the 48 hours to go until the official launch of PPC-1.  All systems are ready for launch on 8 October 2009.  The official launch is expected to be at approximately 11:00 am AEDT.  Prepare for launch.

With all the PPC-1 project activities in place all that is left for the PPC-1 project management team are miscellaneous errands.  One of these tasks includes the electronic consolidation of all the relevant documents and files from the project for the ongoing use by the operations team.  Brett Worrall, Lee Harper, Robin Webb and John Bradfield in the Sydney CLS attended to tasks such as these on the New South Wales public holiday today.

We have had a few posts about the Network Operations Centre ("NOC") so we thought we would give you a little more information about what the NOC does.  NOCs are a vital part of network infrastructure.  The essential task of the NOC involves surveillance of the health of the network 24/7/365.  The NOC also performs other vital functions.  These include: supporting the operating and engineering teams in maintaining the network; ensuring timely communication of planned maintenance works; coordinating activities associated with issue rectification; and generally processing requests from customers.

Some of our NOC people have recently been studiously undertaking some network management training.  Network management training essentially involves training on the network management system for PPC-1.  A key part of this training relates to alarm and fault management for the system.  Pictured above is some of the NOC staff with their B3 training certificates after completion of the course.

B2 training for the system is now complete.  During the week, the PI team got to carry out some dry practise runs on the various maintenance activities that they will be expected to complete during the life of the system.

In the picture above, John and Matt have just completed an exercise to change out a blown lightning arrestor.  It lives inside one of the High Voltage modules in the PFE and involves a lengthy isolation and shut-down process before the module can be pulled out.  In all the process takes about 20 minutes to complete, not including the powering up of the PFE afterwards.  During this time, the system would continue to operate as Guam would be able to 'Single End Feed' the entire system, thus not interrupting traffic.

We had a few requests for the race results so we thought that we would post an update.  There was a pile-up at the start off the grid.  One of our props was damaged in the process.  As a consequence propulsion was lost on the port side of the duck.  This meant that the duck was unable to finish the race.  No doubt PIPE will return next year with a more awesome duck.

Alongside the B2 training, all three cable stations are completing their final inventory checks with the Tyco C&A staff.  This involves going through the inventory records and sighting and cross-checking the items, quantities and serial numbers - right down to every last washer, nut and bolt.

In the picture above, Matt is checking off the keys that are used to control the PFE to ensure that none are missing.

The successful completion of the inventory reports at all three cable landing stations is just one of the documents that need to be completed before PIPE and Tyco can close out the project.

PIPE has entered a duck in the Great Brisbane Duck Race.  Ordinarily this would be a $5 affair, with our duck competing against 24,999 other ducks in a competition to float merrily down the river.  This year, however, there is also a corporate version in which the ducks are larger - about a foot long, and rubber.  Also modifications are legal and encouraged.

So we set about thinking how we could do this.  After many discussions about the ‘how' (and a few about the ‘why') of getting a duck 100m down the river, one of our staff, Chris, realised he had two old RC helicopters at home that didn't really work so well that could be gutted for parts.

After building a prototype, we had enough of a working proof of concept.  After fitting the propellers, it became obvious that they could move a serious amount of water.  And the duck could move.  Not very far in laundry tub, but move.  After cutting the excess metal off to balance it out, it looked a lot better, and after cutting a port-hole and sealing all the electronics inside it, it was ready for the first run in the water, and looked far less monstrous.

Testing it out in a fountain nearby showed that it definitely worked, but has stability issues.  Front-mounted skis and a keel were fitted.  We were ready for the second round of testing, and looking more professional every minute.  We also fitted a wireless camera, hooked up to a video capture card, so it could be piloted using a laptop from a great distance.  Now we were ready to test in the water (see video above).

The modifications described in the testing have all been performed, minus the passive stabilisers which turned out to be unnecessary.

Now it's time to see what it can do against the competition!  Thanks to all staff that contributed their time, skills and ideas to this project - it has been a wonderful experience.  Everyone has had an opinion on how it could be done and how the problems could be solved.

Special thanks to:

- Jenny-Lee, for organising our entry and managing the event;
- Dale and Matt, for design considerations and technical implementation advice;
- Chris, who actually built the thing; and
- Heather & Sara, for their assistance in building and testing.