Nowadays, two types of submarine optical cable, lightweight repeatered submarine optical cable (LW-R) and single armored repeatered submarine optical cable (SA-R), which FiberHome researches and designs independently, have successfully passed the certification process of UJ and obtained 3 key certificates issued by the UJC (Universal Joint Consortium). It indicates that the quality of FiberHome’s submarine optical cable has reached the world advanced level. What’s more, FiberHome can provide secure and reliable submarine optical cable to the world.

Figure 1 UJ certificates of FiberHome’s submarine optical cable

Currently, around 285 submarine optical cable systems are distributed in worldwide. The total length reaches 900,000 kilometers which is 22 times the circumference of the equator . More than 90% of the transnational data transmissions in the world are carried by submarine optical cables. Since the length of a complete transoceanic submarine optical cable transmission system can range from thousands to ten of thousands of kilometers, one single submarine optical cable manufacturer cannot complete the whole production independently in a short term. Meanwhile, as the existing submarine optical cable communication lines are crisscrossed and widely distributed, the routine maintenance and troubleshooting are very complex and time-consuming. Therefore, the construction and maintenance of submarine optical cable communication system requires the participation of different manufacturers and constructors. In the condition of numerous models from different manufactures, complicated connection processes and maintenance personnel from different countries, jn order to ensure the connection and construction can be completed effectively and reasonably , the production of submarine optical cable should be carried out under the same standard system.

Universal Joint Consortium (UJC) is the world’s leading technology organization for submarine optical cables, the only four members are from France, United Kingdom, Japan, and United States. Every submarine optical cable must be certified by UJ before entering the international market. And to be certified, the submarine optical cable must be tested according to the specific technical specifications by a series of rigorous tests, including mechanical and electrical performance, etc. For those UJ certified submarine optical cables, on the one hand, it indicates that the cables have met the requirements of long-distance transmission and construction laying, and it has reached the international advanced level in performance. On the other hand, the cables produced by different manufacturers can be repaired and link to each other. That is, the use of UJ-certified submarine optical cables from different manufacturers will not create technical obstacles to new construction and maintenance works.

The UJ certification of FiberHome’s submarine optical cable was conducted at the Global Marine Systems Limited (GMSL) in the UK and four cable types were certificated including LW, SA, LWP, and DA. This certification is divided into two stages. The first stage is the certification of LW and SA, and the other stage is LWP and DA. From information collection and clarification, sample cable structure design, manufacture and self-test, to samples delivery to UJ certification and get approved, the entire UJ certification takes at least 3 years to complete. More than 30 test items should be passed during the certificate including radiographic inspection, sheave, fatigue, flexure resistance and corrosion test, etc. Especially, this time the submarine optical cables certified are applicable to submarine networks with repeaters, other tests such as copper continuity test and continuous high-voltage test also need to be completed. In particular, the continuous high-voltage test is carried out after all the mechanical tests with highest voltage of hundreds of thousands of volts and lasting for dozens of hours. All these comprehensive tests are to ensure that the cables, closures and repeaters can maintain stable and excellent working conditions within their lifespan of 25 years.

After numerous tests, these UJ certifications have finally proved that the production technology and quality of the submarine optical cable of FiberHome have reached the international advanced level, and FiberHome will strongly contribute the construction of the global submarine optical cable