Patent ID: 7171125

Claim:
A method of expanding a communication system comprising the acts of: locating an existing communication system including: a first and a second landmass having a first and a second piece of power feed equipment, respectively; a first underwater cable carrying signals between said first and said second landmass, wherein said first underwater cable includes a first electrical power conductor having a first and a second end electrically connected to said first and said second piece of power feed equipment, respectively; and a first repeater electrically connected to said first electrical power conductor; laying a second underwater cable carrying signals between said second landmass and a third landmass wherein said first, said second, and said third landmasses are separated by at least one body of water, said second underwater cable including a second electrical power conductor and a second repeater electrically connected to said second electrical power conductor; providing a third piece of electrical power feed equipment located on said third landmass; electrically connecting a first end of said second electrical power conductor to said third piece of power feed equipment; making a permanent electrical connection on said second landmass between second end of said first electrical power conductor and a second end of said second electrical power conductor; eliminating said second piece of power feed equipment from said communication system such that said first and said second repeater are powered exclusively by said first and said third pieces of power feed equipment; and increasing an electrical power provided by said first piece of power feed equipment in response to said act of eliminating said second piece of power feed equipment from said communication system.