Google thrives where there is Internet. The tech giant is number one in more than one internet service category. So far, wherever people have access to the Internet, they accessed Google services, but the company wants to take it further. One way is to increase access to Internet in developing countries. Android, Google’s branch, already works on it. Facebook is interested in expanding Internet access as well. Another way is to dramatically increase the Internet speed in places where people are already familiar with the company’s products. The latest involvement is in FASTER Trans-Pacific Cable System. That is how Google makes sure its clients will take full advantage of the services.
So Google is highly interested in having an Internet working flawlessly. That is why the company started Project Zero, an initiative to stop cybercrime all over the Internet.
Urs Hölzle, the Google’s senior vice president for technical infrastructure said on his Google Plus profile on Monday that “[…] sometimes the fastest path requires going through an ocean. That’s why we’re investing in FASTER, a new undersea cable that will connect major West Coast cities in the US to two coastal locations in Japan with a design capacity of 60 Tbps (that’s about ten million times faster than your cable modem). Along with our previous investments – UNITY in 2008 and SJC (South-East Asia Japan Cable) in 2011, FASTER will make the internet, well, faster and more reliable for our users in Asia.”
FASTER Trans-Pacific Cable System will bring next generation Internet speed between America and Asia
FASTER will be composed out of 6-fiber-pair cable which is designed to transport 60Tb/s (100Gb/s x 100 wavelengths x 6 fiber-pairs). The cable will be ready for use in 2016, as the construction is set to begin as soon as possible. Google will invest $300 million in this project.
The major West Coast cities will be better connected with Asia. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle are among the U.S. cities to connect with two cities from Japan, Chikura and Shima.
Google is not the only one supporting this endeavor. Other interested companies will offer their support as well. China Mobile International, China Telecom Global, Global Transit, KDDI, and SingTel are Google’s partners in the FASTER Trans-Pacific Cable System. Cnet says that NEC will be the main supplier in this gargantuan project. The company has extensive experience in placing submarine cables. In over 30 years of experience, NEC placed more than 200.000 km of cables.