Azerbaijan segment of EPEG close to completion

Construction of the Azerbaijani segment of a new fibre-optic international gateway system, which links Oman to Frankfurt in Germany via Russia and Iran, is nearing completion, Trend News Agency reports, citing Delta Telecom’s technical director Raed Alekberli. A test run of the Europe Persia Express Gateway (EPEG) is expected in the near future, Alekberli said. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, four international telecommunications companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March 2011 to develop the EPEG cable system, namely: Oman’s incumbent fixed line operator Omantel, Iran-based Telecommunications Infrastructure Company (TIC), UK-based Cable & Wireless Worldwide and Russian carrier Rostelecom. The 6,000km cable system is expected to be ready for service in May 2012, helping to accommodate the increasing traffic from the MENA region, Central Asia, Russia and Europe, providing an alternative route to the Red Sea Systems.