Gulf Bridge International (GBI), the region's first privately owned submarine cable operator, and Tyco Telecommunications, an undersea communications technology provider, have signed the Gulf Bridge International supply and construction contract.

The sources said that GBI's undersea cable network will connect the Gulf countries in a "Gulf Ring" system, in addition to an onward connectivity to Far East via India (east route) and Europe via Italy (west route).

The sources further added that the service will be ready by fiscal 2011.

According to sources, Tyco will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, deployment and testing of GBI's undersea cable network.

(via TopNews Arab Emirates. Contributed by Faarooq Mehmood)