FEATURE
PTC’19 SUBMARINE CABLE WORKSHOP RECAP “We connect the internet!”
BY ELAINE STAFFORD
P
TC’s annual Submarine Cable Workshop in Honolulu is one of my favorite industry events- and surprisingly, it is not the unbeatable surroundings. Rather, it’s the energy, opportunity to exchange ideas with so many old friends and knowledgeable people, and for me (selfishly speaking), I often get to pick the theme for the panel discussion and panelists who participate. And if I’m lucky, it is something I am passionate about along with the other panelistswhich makes for an insightful and fun debate for everyone, including the audience. So many people make time for this on a Sunday morning in Honolulu, that those of us involved become vested in making sure it worthwhile; this year was no exception. The day may become one of my alltime favorites, along with others dating back years such as “naked networks” (now more appropriately named “open”), cable lifetime and recycle opportunities, ICPC initiatives with the UN on permitting the use of the ocean floor, or the recent all-women panel which focused on cable security. With over 200 attendees this year, the day started with the traditional enthusiastic networking- fueled by the optimism of today’s busy market. The workshop was full of insightful presentations and lively debates throughout the day: • all that is happening with new cable projects, many
16
SUBMARINE TELECOMS MAGAZINE
opening new routes, announced around the globe on both traditional and new routes- EllaLink, B2BE, SxS, Curie and Dunant, all within the backdrop of many other large networks which no one would publicly discuss but many of us understand are rapidly developing; • today’s complex regulatory challenges faced by cable developers, owners, and suppliers, possibly exacerbated by global geopolitical rhetoric ; • new trends in undersea technology, architecture, ownership, and supply- most notably perhaps SDM which promises to inch cable capacity ahead despite Shannon’s impenetrable limit at the fiber level; • TeleGeography’s annual update – with insights on data center trends, pricing, and their view of the future, plus, • SubOptic’s view of critical challenges that our industry as a whole, face today- with a lot of discussion on the need to recruit new talent into the uniquely satisfying industry of bringing the world closer together by covering vast distances at the speed of light. Slides from the workshop are on PTC’s website at https://council.ptc.org/PTC/PTC19/online-program/ conference-proceedings.aspx?EventKey=PTC19PROG.