China begins laying new trans-Pacific fiber optic cable to US

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BEIJING, Oct 23 (AFP): China has begun laying a 500- million- dollar fiber optic cable to the United States that will be vital in meeting booming Internet traffic between the two nations, state press reported today.
The "Trans Pacific Express" cable will directly link China with South Korea, Taiwan and the United States, greatly increasing Internet speeds between the regions, the China Daily said.
Work laying the cable began in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao Monday, with completion of the trans-oceanic line scheduled for July next year, the paper said.
The terminus of the cable that will also be able to transmit high definition television signals during the Beijing 2008 Olympics will be in Nedonna Beach, Oregon, it added.