Operators from China Telecom, China Network Communications (CNC), China Unicom, Chunghua Telecom from Taiwan, Korea Telecom and the Verizon Co. of the United States signed an agreement in Beijing Monday to jointly build a trans-Pacific express, the first-ever terabyte seabed cable system between China and the U.S. The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2008.

With the adoption of the most sophisticated telecommunication technologies, TPE will be the first cable express to provide its clients with 10G wavelength directly-connected cable systems between China and the U.S. TPE will also be a trans-Pacific cable system with the lowest per unit cost thanks to a big span direct connection without a switch through Japan.

The express cable, involving a total investment of some 500 million US dollars, will widen trans-Pacific transmission band remarkably when it is completed.

Editor: Yan