Alyeska Begins Change Over to Fiber Optics Line

Alyeska Pipeline recently began converting communications systems from the current microwave system to a newly installed fiber optics network. The various pipeline communications systems will be transferred to fiber optics incrementally, with the phone lines being the first to be converted. The phone lines at Pump Stations 7 and 5 were the first system to be brought over to the fiber optics network. The business critical systems, including the communication systems to the Remote Gate Valves will be the last systems to be converted to fiber optics. Full transfer to the fiber optics line is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 1999.

The new fiber optics line will improve the overall integrity, efficiency and security of the Alyeska Pipeline communication system. The fiber line will allow increased capacity of the pipeline computer network, speed up transmissions between remote locations and allow for new applications, such as video teleconferencing.

The fiber optics line is owned and operated by Kanas Telecom.