Cable Landing Station SOLUTIONS


Our infrastructure connects subsea cables to Cable Landing Stations (CLS), featuring marine steel directional bores and Beach Manholes (BMH).
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Conventional Telco CLS vs CLS Inside a Data Center

Infrastructure that connects Subsea Cable to CLS, including the marine steel directional bores and the Beach Manhole (BMH)

Cable operator is responsible for building and maintaining these equipment, SLTE & PFE, including getting all the necessary permits. These equipment make up the Fronthaul network.

The Backhaul network connects the CLS to data centers further inland. The length of the backhaul determines how quickly data traffic can reach end users, which means there is great value in ensuring a quick, efficient backhaul with the lowest latency

3 Different Types of Cable Landing Station Deployment Models

High capacity DCI solutions, offering encryption, low latency and easy scalability.

Conventional
Telco CLS

Facilities are built and operated by traditional telco providers

CLS Inside
a Data Center

Facilities are built to serve
as both CLS and Data Center

Modular CLS
in Industrial grade Building

Advantages of building a CLS in an existing modern Data Center are clear

Phase #1:
Process for Obtaining Approvals & Permits


for Deployment of Subsea Cable into Singapore​

To obtain a license for a Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Singapore, applicant needs to engage with the Info-comm Media Development Authority (IMDA)​. IMDA is the primary regulatory authority for telecommunications and media in Singapore

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Here are general overview of the process:

  • Company needs to obtain an FBO license from IMDA​
  • This license allows applicant to deploy and operate telecommunications networks, systems, and facilities to provide telecommunication or broadcasting services outside of your own property boundaries​
  • This license is crucial for setting up a CLS and operating the associated infrastructure
1. After securing the FBO license, the applicant must seek approval from MPA, which includes a route study to identify the optimal marine path for the cable​

2. This step involves submitting detailed plans that align with designated marine cable corridors

​4. Application to MPA (Committee for Marine Projects) for submarine cable corridor and installation approval

​5. Application to Singapore Land Authority (SLA) for Wayleave and Temporary Occupational licences

Phase #2:
Subsea Cable Landing Stations Key Requirements​​

Subsea Cable Landing Station (CLS) requires regulatory authorization for operation within Singapore. CLSs are facilities on land where subsea fiber cables that cross oceans and connect continents come ashore. It allows data to flow between the submarine cable and mainly data centers nowadays ​
​
The license is issued by IMDA in Singapore to ensure that the operator complies with security, data, and regulatory requirements

​
Key Points of a Subsea Cable Landing Station License

Ownership & Operation:

It grants the operator permission to establish, manage, and operate the landing station infrastructure, which often includes specialized facilities for handling international communications​

Data and Network Security

Operators must meet strict requirements related to national security, data privacy, and network resilience. This is especially important due to the critical role of undersea cables in international data transmission​

International Coordination

Since subsea cables are international infrastructure, the license often requires coordination with regulatory bodies and adherence to international agreements, especially around cybersecurity​

Fees and Compliance

Operators might be subject to annual license fees and must regularly report and undergo inspections to ensure ongoing compliance

Subsea Cable Landing Stations Key Requirements

Obtaining a subsea cable landing station license can be a complex process, involving several challenges due to the critical nature of subsea cable infrastructure. Here are some of the main challenges:
Multinational Coordination: Subsea cables span international borders, so operators must navigate the regulatory requirements of multiple countries, which can have different rules regarding foreign ownership, licensing procedures, and cybersecurity requirements

National Security Requirements: Many countries impose strict security requirements for landing stations due to concerns over data privacy, interception risks, and national security. Compliance with these regulations often requires cooperation with intelligence and security agencies, adding complexity to the approval process

Environmental and Local Regulations: Coastal and environmental regulations can also pose challenges, as laying subsea cables and establishing landing stations can impact marine ecosystems and coastal areas, requiring extensive environmental assessments and permits
Land Acquisition and Facilities Development: Finding suitable coastal land for a landing station can be difficult due to geographic limitations and high real estate costs in desirable locations. Additionally, facilities must meet specific technical standards for connectivity, power, and security

Network Redundancy and Resilience: Operators must design landing stations to ensure high resilience, often requiring redundant infrastructure to handle potential failures or attacks. This can add to the cost and complexity of the project

Specialized Equipment and Expertise: Building and maintaining a cable landing station requires advanced technical expertise and equipment to handle large-scale fiber-optic data transmission and ensure network reliability, adding to operational costs and logistical challenges.
Cost of Cable Deployment and Maintenance: The cost of laying subsea cables and setting up landing stations is enormous, often requiring investments from multiple stakeholders. Maintenance costs are also high, as repair of subsea cables requires specialized ships and equipment

Financing Challenges: The need for extensive funding often requires partnerships or consortiums, but aligning the interests of multiple stakeholders can be challenging and time-consuming. Infrastructure and Technical Requirements

Land Acquisition and Facilities Development: Finding suitable coastal land for a landing station can be difficult due to geographic limitations and high real estate costs in desirable locations. Additionally, facilities must meet specific technical standards for connectivity, power, and security

Network Redundancy and Resilience: Operators must design landing stations to ensure high resilience, often requiring redundant infrastructure to handle potential failures or attacks. This can add to the cost and complexity of the project

Specialized Equipment and Expertise: Building and maintaining a cable landing station requires advanced technical expertise and equipment to handle large-scale fiber-optic data transmission and ensure network reliability, adding to operational costs and logistical challenges
Competitive Landscape: Telecom operators may face competition for access to landing stations in strategic locations, especially when large telecom companies dominate key regions, potentially creating monopolistic situations

Access and Capacity Sharing: Some countries mandate that landing stations allow access to multiple operators to promote fair competition. Complying with these access-sharing requirements can limit operational control and affect profitability
Risk of Cybersecurity Breaches: Subsea cables carry significant volumes of international data, making them potential targets for cyber threats, espionage, and physical attacks. Operators must invest in cybersecurity to protect data integrity

Physical Security Risks: Beyond cyber threats, cable landing stations are vulnerable to physical disruptions, such as natural disasters and intentional sabotage. Ensuring physical security and contingency plans for these risks can be costly
Geopolitical Tensions: Diplomatic tensions between countries can impact cable deployment and landing station licensing, especially if foreign companies or governments are involved in funding or operating the infrastructure

Policy Changes and Restrictions: Regulatory policies can change, potentially restricting foreign ownership or imposing new data privacy requirements. For example, some countries impose data localization requirements, requiring certain data to be stored domestically, which may impact cable and station usage
Impact on Marine Ecosystems: Cables laid on the ocean floor can disrupt marine habitats, leading to concerns from environmental agencies and local communities

Sustainable Operation Requirements: Increasing emphasis on sustainability may require operators to adopt green technologies or implement practices that reduce the carbon footprint of their operations, potentially increasing project costs
Overall, establishing a subsea cable landing station is a major undertaking that requires navigating complex regulatory, financial, technical, and environmental challenges.

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