Seaborn Networks and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) announced today that construction of the Seabras-1 submarine fiber optic cable system between the US and Brazil has started.

Seabras-1 system is a six-fiber pair system with an initial maximum design capacity of 60 Terabits per second.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Alcatel-Lucent during the manufacturing and build stage of this project,” said Larry Schwartz, Seaborn’s Chief Executive Officer. “And we are most appreciative of our customers who have enabled us to achieve this important milestone so as to ensure a ready-for-service date in 2016.”

“Seabras-1 is an important catalyst for the continued expansion of affordable broadband penetration in Brazil and the region,” said Philippe Dumont, President of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks. “The system will support a wide variety of global communication services for consumers and businesses throughout South America.”

The Alcatel-Lucent solution to be deployed for this project includes an integrated 100G wet plant of cable and high bandwidth repeaters, power feed equipment, and its 1620 Light Manager (LM) submarine line terminal equipped with advanced coherent technology and offering unique flexibility to increase direct connectivity between countries. Designed to accommodate 100G wavelengths in the same platform, the Alcatel-Lucent 1620 LM enables seamless capacity upgrade on flexible grid for channel spacing without traffic interruption. As part of the turnkey contract, Alcatel-Lucent is also responsible for project management, system design, installation and system commissioning.