Nava and Fujitsu Begin marine and terrestrial surveys

Sydney, September 17, 2001

Nava Networks and Fujitsu Australia announced today that they had begun both the marine and terrestrial surveys for the 9,000km Nava-1, high capacity network.

The marine survey covers the shallow waters of the South China Sea and Java Sea between Singapore and Jakarta, then through the Sunda Straits and on into the deep waters of the Indian Ocean for the link to Perth. The terrestrial survey will further refine the route initially identified in the desktop study and determine the final alignment of the route between Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Nava Networks' Director of Networks, Mr Brett Worrall, said that he was pleased the marine and terrestrial surveys were underway. "Beginning final surveys in a cable system project is always an important milestone. Nava-1 is making significant progress in a difficult environment for new projects of this type," he said.

Mr Worrall said that the surveys were an essential stage in the system development to ensure that the final route selected offered the Nava-1 infrastructure the best possible protection.

"Nava and Fujitsu are employing the most advanced survey techniques, to ensure the protection afforded to the system through burial and cable selection is carefully planned, such that during subsequent installation, maximum security is ensured along the systems entire length, especially in waters where human activity is a risk."

Fujitsu Australia's Executive Director of Telecommunications, Mr John Kranenburg, said that Nava-1 was the largest single project that Fujitsu Australia has undertaken.

"This project is significant due to the current downturn in the telecommunications industry and will generate significant employment and additional contract positions throughout remote and regional Australia," he said.

"The start of the surveys and the final route selection mark the beginning of the terrestrial project for the Fujitsu Australia team. Having now received Nava's authorisation to proceed, we are confident that we can bring the project to the expected RFS date of Q1 2003," Mr Kranenburg added.

Mr Worrall indicated that this work tracked the progress made by Nava toward concluding its financial and equity arrangements.

"The rate of progress has been significant and we look forward to announcing details of these arrangements over the next few weeks," he said.