US NCP Optical Cable

The NCP (New Cross Pacific) Optical Cable connects the US to Asia via a high-capacity submarine fiber-optic system, with its US landing at Pacific City, Oregon.OverviewThe New Cross Pacific (NCP) Cable System is a 13,000 km high-capacity submarine fiber-optic network spanning the Pacific Ocean, directly linking the United States with major Asian countries including China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan . It is designed to meet growing bandwidth demands for internet content, cloud services, and enterprise data traffic.US Landing and OperationsThe US landing station is located at Pacific City, Oregon, and is operated by Microsoft Infrastructure Group, LLC . This station serves as the primary entry point for trans-Pacific data traffic into the United States. Microsoft's involvement marks its first investment as a consortium member in an international submarine cable system, providing both operational oversight and infrastructure support .Technical SpecificationsFiber Pairs: 7 optical fiber pairs per segmentTechnology: 100 Gbps DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing)Initial Capacity: 1.2 Tbps per segmentTotal Design Capacity: 70 TbpsSegments: Six main segments with branches connecting multiple landing points The cable operates on a non-common carrier basis, offering bulk capacity through indefeasible rights of use (IRUs) and leases to consortium members and customers .Consortium and OwnershipThe NCP is owned by an international consortium comprising:Microsoft Operations Pte LtdChina Mobile International LimitedChina Telecommunications CorporationChina United Network Communications Group Company LimitedChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.KT CorporationSoftBank Mobile Corp. (minor 0.02% interest) Each major member holds approximately 16.66% fractional interest, ensuring shared governance and investment responsibilities .Asian Landing PointsThe NCP cable also lands in key Asian locations:China: Chongming, Lingang, NanhuiSouth Korea: BusanTaiwan: TouchengJapan: Maruyama The Japan-US segment entered commercial service on February 22, 2018, while the full system became operational in January 2019, following completion of delayed segments in China .SignificanceThe NCP cable enhances trans-Pacific connectivity, providing high-speed, high-capacity links for cloud services, internet content delivery, and enterprise networks. Its advanced DWDM technology and multiple fiber pairs allow for scalable bandwidth to accommodate future growth in data traffic between the US and Asia .