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Updated Tuesday, September 14, 2010 11:06 am TWN, CNA

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Cross-Strait comm cables could soon be a reality

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The government said yesterday that Taiwan's telecommunication companies will be allowed to join with Chinese companies in installing cables under the Taiwan Strait, a move expected to lower the cost of communicating between the two sides.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said telecommunications between Taiwan and China currently rely on international undersea cables or satellites, often routed to third locations, that are not ideal in terms of either cost or technology.

That has made it necessary to install a submarine cable that exclusively connects the two sides of the Strait, the MOTC said.

The ministry expects that the project will help lower maintenance costs, reduce cross-Strait communications costs, and improve the quality of communications.

Telecom companies can apply to build new cross-Strait cables after the National Communications Commission completes amendments of related laws.

At present there are three connecting points in Taiwan for submarine communication cables with China — northeastern Taiwan's Toucheng Township in Yilan County, northern Taiwan's Danshuei Township in Taipei County, and southern Taiwan's Fangshan Township in Pingtung County.

Cable networks connecting Taiwan and China include the Asia Pacific Cable Network, the Trans-Pacific Cable Network, the China-U.S. Cable Network, and the world's longest Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 3.

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