KEY POINTS:
NEW YORK - Google is in early talks to join a group looking to lay a high-speed, trans- Pacific undersea cable that could potentially lead to the internet company becoming an investor in the project, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The potential undersea fibre-optic investment could reflect Google's recent push to provide internet-based services to businesses, since companies have lower tolerance for service interruptions and have offices around the world, the Journal reported on its website, citing a person familiar with the matter.
The discussions remain fluid, the Journal reported.
Australian IT publication Communications Day has reported that the project, known as the Unity cable, has been in development for several months.
Google representatives were in Sydney last week for high-level talks on the multi tera-bit cable.
Communications Day said Google would perhaps join forces with other carriers.
Google, which has been investing heavily in infrastructure in recent months, has advertised for a submarine cable negotiator for upcoming projects.
The Unity project could have a massive impact on speed and cost of true high-speed internet across the Asia-Pacific region.
- REUTERS / NZ HERALD STAFF
