First cross-strait cable activated

The first fibre-optic submarine cable linking China and Taiwan was officially launched last week, news portal China.org reports. The activation of the Taiwan Strait Express 1 (TSE-1) cable allows a direct link between the mainland and Taiwan, bypassing the need for indirect international routes previously used. The 270km cable connects Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province with Tamsui in Taiwan and was constructed by Chinese operators China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile in conjunction with Taiwan’s FarEasTone, Taiwan Mobile, Taiwan International Gateway Corporation and Chunghwa Telecom. Representatives from the companies involved said that the cable would provide new opportunities for Taiwan’s telecommunications sector, and represented a step forward in promoting cross-strait peace and development.