India's Tata Communications claims to have the first round-the-world fiber cable network ring, after lighting two new subsea cables.
The operator completed its global network when it switched on the final portion of its Eurasia (TGN-EA) cable yesterday. The 9,280km cable system runs across the Mediterranean, connecting India and Europe through Egypt.
Tata’s 10G round-the-world ring has city-to-city connections, instead of the traditional approach of only connecting landing stations.
The operator simultaneously announced the launch of its TGN-Gulf subsea cable system linking India, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The 10G cable is being operated in partnership with Nawras of Oman, Etisalat of the UAE, Qtel of Qatar, Bahrain Internet Exchange and Mobily of Saudi Arabia.
According to Tata Comm, with the two cables the company now has a fiber network reaching countries which generate a combined 99.7% of the world's GDP. The company has connectivity in more than 200 countries across 400 points of presence.