UVic inks deal with Alcatel for NEPTUNE

The Univ of Victoria has signed a $39-million contract with Alcatel as part of a $62.4-million US-Canada project to create the world’s largest cable-linked underwater observatory. Alcatel is responsible for designing, manufacturing and installing the 800-kilometre looped cable system in conjunction with Alcatel Canada, Nautronixx MariPro, San Diego CA and Satlantic, Halifax. Slated for completion by mid 2007, the observatory will be to transmit images and data over the Internet for use by scientists, education institutions, science centres and the public. The underwater observatory nodes to be installed off Vancouver Island will give scientists access and control of scientific sensors and remotely-operated vehicles and cameras. The Canadian component of NEPTUNE was funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the BC Knowledge Development Fund….