This week, Cable Landing Station (CLS) site preparations were moved forward by the PMU and Flexenclosure teams. The Flexenclosure installation team have completed the air-conditioning system and the DC back up battery power system. The network equipment that will be installed in the CLS by NEC needs to be kept cool, dry and dust-free. To that end, the CLS is a sanitised building.

Ducts from the beach bulkhead to the Beach Man-hole (BMH) are nearly completed.

The frames on the side of the CLS hold air-conditioning units, and are mirrored on the other side. The orange coloured container is a temporary tool shed and will be removed once the CLS is operational. You can see why we are planning on a roof and veranda, both to protect the CLS and improve the appearance!

A PNCC fibre had to be relocated to accommodate the main ducts.

The difference in scale between a normal fibre installation on land, like this one in its micro-trench, and the massive concreted installation for the main BMH ducts is obvious. The BMH ducts are 120 metres long.

We expect to be ready when the NEC team arrives this week to survey the site (late update – the inspection was completed and we passed with flying colours). We also expect to see a detailed specialist survey of the shallow sections of the West Passage prior to cable ship and dive operations in June to lay the Pre-Lay Shore End (PLSE). BSCC is grateful for the assistance of JMAS (Japan Mine Action Service http://jmas-ngo.jp/english-home ), for planning and undertaking the specialist survey.

Here is the JMAS team at the cable landing site, with me on the right.

Once the PLSE is in place, there are three big milestones to come before BSCCnet is in service:

• Network equipment installation in CLS at Ngeremlengui in Palau and in Piti, Guam by NEC, expected in late June.

• Cable lay operations to connect the PLSE to the Branching Unit (BU3a) on the SEA-US cable by NEC, expected in early August.

• Supplier (ie NEC), Purchaser (ie BSCC) and Customer (ie Palauan Service Providers) testing, expected to run late September to November.

We remain on track for December 2017 Ready for Service (RFS)!