The Hindu Business Line : RCom submits plan to deal with cable cuts to TRAI

Restoration act
RCom had capacity on three cables connecting Western countries and another two for East-bound traffic
It has restored most of the traffic after a cable cut on FLAG disrupted services

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Dec. 26 Reliance Communications Ltd has informed the telecom regulator that it has put in place alternative bandwidth to restore Internet services and International long-distance telephony in the event of one or two cable cuts.

Responding to TRAI’s letter asking the company to explain the back-up plan to deal with cable cuts, RCom said that it had capacity on three cables connecting Western countries and another two cables for East-bound traffic.

The company said that it has restored most of the traffic after a cable cut on FLAG disrupted services last week.

“The restoration was possible due to adequate bandwidth arrangements made by RCom on alternative routes following similar cable cuts in early 2008. RCom’s arrangement is most advanced having planned for 100 per cent traffic restoration in case of one or two cable cuts and 80 per cent traffic restoration in case of three-cable cuts. Diversity on four cables is not seen with any carrier around the world.” RCoM said.

Explaining the reason for not having enough bandwidth to meet the demand after FLAG cable was cut last week, Reliance said that it had acquired additional capacity through its subsidiary Reliance Globalcom Ltd.

“However, the political development in Thailand delayed the entire plan which is now expected to be completed by the end of January 2009. This would provide RCom adequate diversity of cable and routes,” it said. RCom also blamed Bharti Airtel for not responding to its request for new capacity.

“RCom has been in constant communication with Bharti Airtel Ltd since December 19 to access capacity on Sea-Me-We 4 through Bharti’s Meet-Me-Room (MMR) in Chennai. Senior level telephonic discussions continue to be held between Bharti and RCom. As of now, Bharti has not yet delivered the access to the capacity. RCom has been in communication with Bharti over 50 times through Phone calls, SMS and emails in last seven days. We request TRAI intervention for immediate access to capacity as per our request,” RCom said in its letter to the regulator.

Internet and international data services were disrupted last week after three undersea cables got cut in the Mediterranean Sea. One of the cables – FLAG – is owned by Reliance. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel has told the regulator that it had received a formal request for access facilitation from Reliance on December 22 after the office hours.

“We have already initiated the process of provisioning of access facilitation to Reliance Communications and shall be providing the same at the earliest,” Bharti said.