TE SubCom to Build Submarine Cable Depot in Samoa

Samoa Submarine Cable Company (SSCC) and TE SubCom, a TE Connectivity Ltd. company and an industry pioneer in undersea communications technology, have announced that TE SubCom will construct a new submarine cable depot in the Port of Apia, Samoa to service and maintain more than 20 cable systems in the South Pacific region.

In March of last year, TE SubCom was awarded the South Pacific Marine Maintenance Agreement (SPMMA), a five-year service agreement between SubCom and 15 cable operators in the region. The new depot in Samoa will help TE SubCom to support and maintain the more than 51,000 km of telecommunications and power cable systems in the area as well as support regional installation activities.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to add a world-class facility to our worldwide services, and are especially pleased to have found such a great regional partner in the Samoa Submarine Cable Company,” said James Herron, Managing Director Marine Operations, TE SubCom. “Maintenance services are a key part of our global cable operations, and as a maintenance provider, TE SubCom is dedicated to meeting the changing needs of our customers worldwide. To do this, we’re investing long-term in the South Pacific region and this new depot demonstrates our commitment to supporting our clientele in the area.”

“We look forward to TE SubCom’s expanded presence in the region and the increased services this new depot will provide,” said Emmanuel Delanoue, CEO of Samoa Submarine Cable Company. “As we continue to expand and improve upon communication systems in the region, we look forward to working closely with SubCom.”

“The Government of Samoa welcomes TE SubCom to Samoa. This partnership showcases the government’s commitment to encouraging foreign investment. In addition, the submarine cable depot aligns with Samoa’s aspiration to position itself as a submarine cable hub for island nations seeking to bridge the digital divide and improve internet connectivity for their people,” remarked Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Port of Apia Depot Facts

• Secure facility operating within the Port of Apia
• Adjacent to a 150 meter wide, deep-water berth
• 4000 square meters of covered warehouse storage:
• Six cable tanks with over 1100 cubic meters of storage for cable
• Environmentally controlled and monitored storage for optical bodies
• 150 square meters of dedicated storage for jointing kits and test equipment
• 1000 square meters of fenced, uncovered storage adjacent to the warehouse

About the SPMMA

• The SPMMA area covers the South Pacific region from Singapore in the west to Tahiti in the east and from the southernmost point of New Zealand to Hawaii in the north.
• SubCom will maintain cable systems across more than 28 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean using the cable ship Reliance, based in the South Pacific region.
• An experienced crew of dedicated marine professionals will utilize SubCom’s modern marine assets and extensive technology portfolio to ensure quality delivery of maintenance services to the region.