Tata Communications Invests in Seaborn Networks' Undersea Cable

Aiming to expand in the Latin American market, Tata Communications has made an investment in Seaborn Networks, which is laying a submarine network cable between the US and Brazil.

The investment will help the Tata Group company buy a significant capacity in the cable, Seabras-1, which is expected to be ready for service by the fourth quarter of 2016.

Seabras-1 is part of Seaborn Network and it will provide the first ever direct fibre optic cable between commercial and financial centres of Brazil and the US. The system will also have a branch that lands in Fortaleza, Brazil, Tata Communications said in a statement.

The company, however, did not disclose financial details.

"Latin America is a key emerging region and growing market on the world stage and our investment in Seabras-1 is part of our plan to enhance our offerings into that region," Tata Communications' Global Network Services Senior Vice President Genius Wong said.

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Tata Communications owns and operates the world's largest fibre network measuring 240,000 kilometres. The cable systems are key to Internet services across world.

The Seaborn Network cable system has a node close to Tata Communications' cable in US.

"With the Seabras-1 cable landing in Tata Communications' Wall cable landing station in the US, this will also enable seamless extension of our TGN-network," Wong said.

The new capacity will add to Tata Communications cable route.

"Tata Communications' investment for significant capacity purchase in Seabras-1 is a clear indication of high demand in the market for an express submarine cable route between the US and Sao Paulo and seamless extension to other geographies in the world," Seaborn Networks Chief Executive Office Larry Schwartz said.