Russian Internet to be linked to Japan's

Summa Telecom will invest $50 million in an undersea cable to connect Russia's Sakhalin with Japan. The communication line will connect mainland Russia, Sakhalin and Japan. The company Transtelecom is also laying a cable connection with Sakhalin and has already prepared the necessary land infrastructure for the communication channel. All communication between Sakhalin and mainland Russia presently takes place via satellite, ever since the old cable of Rostelecom and Dalsviaz became unserviceable. Some analysts express amazement over the plans of Summa Telecom, saying that it is irrational to go ahead with laying the cable without first preparing the land infrastructure. At the same time, Summa Telecom does not have networks on Sakhalin proper. There is also uncertainty concerning the cable link with Japan, as prior intergovernmental agreements are needed to lay it.