Historical reference 2005

The Fibre Optical Cable System Trans Asia Europe (TAE) connects the countries of Asia and Europe by modern telecommunications facilities. It follows the ancient Silk Route, starting from Shanghai, China on the east to Frankfurt, Germany on the west. This cable system traverses 20 countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afganistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany. TAE is the longest terrestrial cable link in the world with the total length 27,000 km.

1992		The proposal to construct TAE System was originated by Ministry of Posts and Communication of China in 1992. “The Agreement on the Construction and Organization of Trans Asia Europe fiber-optical cable system” was signed by telecommunication administrations of China, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Ukraine and Uzbekistan on April 09, 1993 in Urumqi, China. There was agreed the route for link with the length of approximately 21,000 km from Frankfurt am Main to Shanghai. The construction of the link should be finished by the end of the year 1995. TAE System was planned on 140Mbits/ level and higher. Each Party was responsible for construction of its own TAE segments.
1994		In January 1994 Turkmenistan, Turkey and Iran joined the TAE Agreement.
1995		In April 1995 Byelorussia, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Pakistan and Afganistan joined the TAE Agreement
1998		The inauguration ceremony of putting in service of TAE System was held in November 1998. To test the link there were established two 2Mbit/s bearers Frankfurt-Shanghai transit via Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine and Poland by mean of videoconference among 10 countries – TAE Parties. Transmission of international traffic was started in the end of 1998.
2001		Putting in service in the year 2001 of submarine cable systems BSFOCS Varna-Odesa-Novorossiysk and Georgia-Russia (Geo-Rus) Novorossiysk-Poti as well as Armenian, Azerbaijan and Georgian TAE segments allowed passing of the international traffic from Europe to Caucasian countries.
2003		On the 31 of December 2003, new “TAE Agreement” came into force and replace “The Agreement on the Construction and Organization of Trans Asia Europe fiber-optical cable system” as the construction of the link has been finished in general. New “TAE Agreement” contains the statements on operation, maintenance and loading the system with international traffic. The leading body of TAE is the Management Committee (MC), which meetings are hold every year. The Chairman of TAE Management Committee is elected every meeting. Between MC meetings, the work of TAE System is coordinated by System Administrator (SA). Its functions are committed to Ukrainian Party. Operation, Maintenance and Restoration Working Group (OR&MWG) acts under the leadership of the System Administrator. TAE SA functions include administration, maintenance monitoring, loading of the system with international traffic, keeping and update TAE database, preparing circuits quality and availability analysis, working out of documentation for MC and WG meetings.
2005		In order to provide the potential customers with information regarding technical possibilities contact points for liaison, price offers there was created TAE website. In connection with growing demands in high-speed circuits Parties have started the process of TAE modernization, replacing of crossborders equipment from STM-4 to ST-16, conversion of national networks to DWDM technology.
2006		In connection with Internet development, appearance of new services such as ADSL, MPLS, there was started the process of TAE modernization to DWDM technology.

TAE System offers modern telecommunication services: high speed circuits, telephony traffic, data transmission, private leased circuits, video, Internet, ISDN.

TAE System is one of the most important international cable systems, connecting Asian and European continents with the entire world.