DRG Undersea Consulting Inc. is a consulting group with over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, specializing in the planning, engineering, construction management, operation, and commercialization of submarine fiber optic telecommunications infrastructure worldwide.

This expertise, combined with their complementary knowledge of terrestrial networks for critical backhaul installations in submarine and national backbone networks, along with a team renowned for its broad perspective and deep experience, led Telconet to select DRG as advisors and Project Manager for CSN-1 in January 2021.

The process began with the launch of the Request for Information (RFI) in December 2020, a significant challenge at that time, given it was the year of the pandemic. Subsequently, in 2021, the Request for Quotation (RFQ) was issued, in which the leading submarine systems manufacturing companies participated. The evaluation and results led Telconet Latam to select Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) in September 2021 as the supplier for the contract to manufacture the fiber optic cable and necessary equipment for the implementation of the CSN-1 submarine cable system.

Alcatel, a France-based company, is one of the leaders in the submarine cable industry with over half a million kilometers installed worldwide and a history of over 150 years. Alcatel's commitment goes beyond cable manufacturing; they offer a comprehensive suite of support, installation, commissioning, and maintenance services. These services are backed by their own fleet of cable-laying ships, ensuring reliability and efficiency in maritime operations.

After several months of negotiations, Telconet Latam and Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) signed the contract on December 17, 2021.

The contract signed in December 2021 began its execution phase in March 2022, the month in which the "Contract coming into force" (CiF) occurred.

One of the most significant milestones in the construction phase of a submarine cable system is the execution of the marine survey, which involves a comprehensive review of the pre-defined route for laying the fiber optic cable.

The survey for CSN-1 was conducted over several months, covering both the Pacific segment between Ecuador and Panama, and the Caribbean segment between Panama, Colombia, and the United States. This survey was completed in July 2023.

One of the starting points that confirms the landing location in the different countries the submarine cable system will reach is the acquisition of land where the Cable Landing Stations (CLS) will be built.

This milestone allows the initiation of various processes related to defining the terrestrial route the fiber optic cable will follow, after its landing at the beach manhole (BHM), as well as obtaining the corresponding permits. The relevant dates for this milestone are as follows: