industry friends, and took a BIG chance. And in November 2001, just after 9/11 and the start of our largest industry downturn, and with a budget consisting of the balance of a severance package from me and some “borrowed” software and pics from him, we published our first issue, which consisted of eight articles and seven complimentary advertisements. Both the initial authors and sponsors showed us a tremendous amount of faith. In 2004, we produced our first submarine cable map for purchase; our break-even was probably 20 copies and I think we sold maybe 25 or so. We also produced that year our first industry calendar, which is funded through monthly sponsorships and forwarded freely to 3,000 industry contacts.
Kristian, Kier and Stephen, and a boatload of others years later, we took the original idea and expanded it in several different and complimentary ways, including new products like Cable Almanac (2011), Industry Report (2012), and Submarine Cables of the World Online Map (2016). We have appreciated literally hundreds of articles from as many international authors from our industry on significant far-reaching topics. Some have merely informed; others have incited angry reaction; all have enhanced the discussion within our community. Through good times and terrible times, we have attempted to keep the vantage clear and concise. Hopefully, we have succeeded more times than not.
In 2008, we created an updated sponsorship-based submarine cable map, which was also forwarded freely to our contacts; the model of which we have kept to today. We then added an industry RSS news-feed to our website. Also, that year, SubOptic selected us to act as Media Partner in support of their upcoming 2010 Yokohama conference, growing an already long-standing relationship.
We have always published SubTel Forum with two key founding principles always in mind, which annually I reaffirm to you, our readers:
With Ted’s premature death and the eventual addition of Kevin,
So, here’s to you, our readers and supporters.
1. That we will provide a wide range of ideas and issues; 2. That we will seek to incite, entertain and provoke in a positive manner.
…And what of that limping twenty-something on the bridge, I told her the truth – that this bridge is longer than it seems, that it will be a bear on this especially hot day, that you can do it if you press forward. And then she asked me how I knew, and I told her simply that I’d done it 21 times before; and if I can do it, so can you.
Thank you for our 15th anniversary and as always, for honoring us with your interest. Good reading,
Wayne Nielsen is the Founder and Publisher of Submarine Telecoms Forum, and previously in 1991, founded and published “Soundings”, a print magazine developed for then BT Marine. In 1998, he founded and published for SAIC the magazine, “Real Time”, the industry’s first electronic magazine. He has written a number of industry papers and articles over the years, and is the author of two published novels, Semblance of Balance (2002, 2014) and Snake Dancer’s Song (2004). +1.703.444.2527 wnielsen@subtelforum.com