BOSTON -- Since the first transatlantic fibre optic cable was commissioned in 1988, the submarine fibre optics industry has experienced its share of ups and downs. The current submarine fibre optics market is strong, cable construction is at an all-time high and between now and the end of 2002, a staggering $28 billion will have been invested in submarine cable systems worldwide. But the tide is about to change direction in the years to come. So how will the industry endure? Pioneer Consulting's latest report, Worldwide Submarine Fibre Optics 2001, has identified a five-year cyclical pattern in the market, characterized by "hiatus" and "steady growth" periods, and then backs up this finding with clear, accurate data on Investment, Capacity (lit and unlit), Route Kilometers and Fibre Kilometers. "Everyone involved in this industry knows that there are good times and bad times. What Pioneer has done is to define what those cycles look like and how long they last," said Julian Rawle, senior market analyst, submarine fibre optic at Pioneer Consulting. "This should assist companies in their business planning and allocation of resources." The Worldwide Submarine Fibre Optics 2001 report takes an in-depth look at the future of the submarine fibre optics industry and identifies the available market opportunities and values, the companies that will seize these opportunities and those who will not survive and what factors will continue to drive this market into the future. According to the report, between 1988 and 2007, over $100 billion will have been invested and nearly 1.5 million kilometers of cable installed in the worldwide submarine fibre optics systems industry. Pioneer Consulting