Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Alasdair Wilkie, CTO of Deep Blue Cable, to discuss the company’s participation in the Sustainable Ocean Summit 2017, trends and outlook for the subsea cable sector.
1. What is the focus for Deep Blue Cable in terms of solving problems related to world ocean?
Deep Blue Cable is committed to building a subsea network that will help meet the Pan-Caribbean region’s current and future communications requirements. The long-term focus is towards preparing the Caribbean region to scale up for the increased data capacity demand. The Caribbean needs resilient communications infrastructure now more than ever. The Deep Blue team is looking forward to creating a new and advanced subsea cable system that will bring the island nations closer to each other, and better connected to the world.
2. What are your future predictions for the subsea cable industry over the next decade?
In the Caribbean, 12-year growth is predicted to reach approximately 50 times existing capacity demand. Bandwidth demand is strong, and high growth is forecasted due to increasing regional investment in fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure. Off-island capacity demand is also growing across the region at between 30 and 45 percent annually, which we anticipate will only increase in the coming years. The subsea cable industry will experience growth in the Caribbean market, which is Deep Blue Cable’s focus. Our pan-regional subsea cable system has more than 40 landings planned across the islands, mainland U.S., and South America.
The direction of Caribbean network connectivity, in which Miami remains the de facto hub for Caribbean bandwidth demand, coupled with the close economic, cultural and linguistic ties among Caribbean countries and the United States, has created an urgent need for improved pan-regional bandwidth infrastructure.
Compared to North American and European telecommunications markets, there remains significant growth potential across the Caribbean for higher penetration of fixed and mobile broadband services, particularly as a result of public-sector initiatives to promote broadband and Information and Communication Technology throughout the region.
These factors will undoubtedly give rise to new regional subsea cable systems and network expansions.
3. Why did you choose to speak at World Ocean Council’s Sustainable Ocean Summit 2017?
The Sustainable Ocean Summit is a uniquely designed platform to connect with stakeholders and leaders from the diverse ocean business community to exchange ideas and participate in insightful dialogues. I am honored to have been invited to join the speakers panel and represent the submarine cable sector on the Plenary Session, Ocean 2030: Ocean Industry Projections and the Future of the Ocean Economy to discuss key trends and opportunities for sustainable development of the global ocean.
4. What topics are you looking forward to and most excited about to learn more at the SOS 2017?
I am most excited to connect with the ocean industry business leaders and hear their perspectives on the innovation and collaboration required to achieve global vision for ocean sustainable development.