PCCW to Transmit First Direct Link from Asia to Europe

HONG KONG, Sept. 11 -- Pacific Century CyberWorks will transmit high-speed information along the world's first Asia-to-Europe 'super-cable', the company said. The $1.5 billion (US) SMW3 undersea cable will transmit information directly from Asia to Europe without having to go through the US, which was the standard route for all Asia-to-Europe Internet traffic until now.
The direct connection means faster service and download times for its European and Asian customers, the company said. PCCW will partner with Australian connection and mobility provider Telstra, who has invested $120 million (US) in the venture.
This is the first major cable directly linking Asia and Europe, where we expect future information traffic to increase, said Keith Harrison, managing director of PCCW's Global Communications sector. With our new cable access agreement, PCCW can provide a committed Internet Backbone service. We can now better serve China, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UAE, Indonesia, Vietnam, and of course, Hong Kong, with high-speed Internet access.