AT&T announced this week that it has joined a consortium of telecom companies dedicated to building and operating the Trans-Pacific Express cable network connecting the United States with mainland China.

AT&T says the cable system, which carries up to 5.12Tbps over a distance of more than 11,000 miles, will help it meet international traffic demands and will enhance network reliability between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region. Joining the consortium to increase its overseas capacity is just one initiative that AT&T is planning as part of its $1 billion investment in network capacity this year. Other initiatives include implementing new MPLS routes in Europe, Asia and the United States; plans to roll out a global virtual private local area network product in 14 major cities worldwide to enhance Ethernet network capabilities; and the addition of DSL options for subscribers in China, Finland, Norway and Saudi Arabia.

AT&T is now the second major U.S. carrier to join the TPE consortium. Verizon Business joined the consortium in December 2006 and agreed to construct and maintain the cable system along with several Asian carriers. At the time, Verizon Business said the system would cost $500 million to construct and would initially provide capacity of up to 1.28Tbps, with the eventual goal of having design capacity of up to 5.12Tbps.

In January, Verizon Business announced that it had gained final approval from the FCC to activate and operate the trans-Pacific cable system. The company says the cable system will be operational by the time the 2008 Summer Olympics kicks off on Sept. 6 in Beijing. Fred Briggs, Verizon Business' executive vice president of operations and technology, says the cable system will reduce trans-pacific traffic latency by 10% to 15%, and will open up paths through China for American carriers to construct new networks in Asian countries such as India and Vietnam.