What is Universal Jointing? – UJ Consortium

Universal Jointing is a method of connecting all types of submarine optical tele-communication cables with a common set of construction equipment & methods.

The benefits of the Universal Joint (UJ) for the repair and installation of subsea fibre optic cable systems are widely acknowledged within the Telecommunication Industry. Since its first installation in 1990 the technology has proven its reliability in-service and provides an efficient and cost effective method of connecting most types of submarine optical telecommunication cables, using a common set of equipment and standardised piece parts.

Universal Joint Pedigree

For TAT-8 (commissioned 1988) the system suppliers, Cable de Lyon, AT&T and STC, cooperated to integrate their own proprietary Interconnection Devices ~ integrating three separate designs was costly and troublesome.
As TAT-9 progressed a single joint concept was developed by AT&T (now Subcom) and BT (now Global Marine) to simplify future maintenance ~ this became the UJ technology.
In 1990 Câble de Lyon (now ASN) joined the consortium.
In 1992, after the success of UJ in the Atlantic, KDD (now KCS) joined the agreement as it was introduced into the Pacific.
In 1996 a new product, the Universal Quick Joint (UQJ) and agreement was developed for the short-haul non-repeatered market.
In 2000 The predecessor organisations of SubCom, Kokusai Cable Ship (KCS), Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) & Global Marine combined agreements for the UJ and the UQJ to form a single agreement under the

recent cable systems where UJ has been used as the maintenance solution include:
APCN2, Flag, SMW3&4, Unity, EASSy, EIG, WACS ….

• Advance the state of the submarine cable jointing arts, through sharing of the expertise for the mutual benefit of the submarine cable industry.
• Optimize customer return on investment in the technology
• Assure the uniform introduction of new and tested improvement to this technology in a cost-effective way.
• Maintain common technical, manufacturing and engineering information:

Quality Plan & Training Standards
Common technology & Qualification Specifications
Joint Piece Parts Design & Qualification
Equipment & Specific Tools Design
Engineering Data Repository (HDB)
Comprehensive Joint assembly instructions (UJCM and UQJCM)
Consistent technology transfer to UJC Member Schools
Communication through Bulletins & Web Site

As independent companies, in commercial competition, the consortium members offer

Jointing Kits, Equipment and Tooling
Jointer Training & Certification
Qualification of cables and cable variants