- Ciena and Aqua Comms achieve the world’s first transatlantic 1.3 Tb/s wavelength transmission, enhancing undersea communication
- This milestone demonstrates the potential of Ciena’s 400G wavelength technology in long-distance, high-capacity transmission
What happened: Ciena and Aqua Comms shatter limits with 1.3 Tb/s
Aqua Comms and Ciena announced the first 1.3 Tb/s wavelength transmission across 5,500 km of the Atlantic Ocean on December 9. This technical milestone was achieved using Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e), the industry’s first fully programmable coherent technology capable of wavelength speeds up to 1.6Tb/s.
Additionally, Aqua Comms and Ciena completed a second world-first, achieving 800 Gb/s wavelength transmission from the USA to Ireland and back, covering a total unregenerated distance of over 11,000km. This was enabled by WL6e’s fully adjustable baud and line rate capability, which was fine-tuned from 200GBaud to 150GBaud during the trial, enhancing capacity optimisation and spectrum efficiency across Aqua Comms’ network.
“These advancements will keep Aqua Comms ahead of growing bandwidth demands while supporting our goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2030,” said Thomas Grant, CNO at Aqua Comms.
Also read: Verizon and Ciena achieve 1.6Tbps fibre trial milestone
Also read: Chorus, Datagrid to build 6,000km submarine cable
What it’s important
This breakthrough represents a significant step forward in submarine communication technology, addressing the surging demand for high-speed data transfers. With the rise of AI, 5G networks, and cloud services, global data traffic is growing exponentially, straining existing infrastructures. Smaller companies, like Aqua Comms, play a vital role in driving innovation by partnering with larger tech firms like Ciena. These collaborations enable smaller players to leverage advanced technologies, gaining a competitive edge in an industry dominated by giants such as Google and Facebook, which also invest heavily in undersea cables.
For example, Flexential, a smaller data center provider, recently expanded its fiber-optic networks to improve connectivity for regional enterprises. Similarly, companies like Bulk Infrastructure are pioneering sustainable data solutions by integrating green energy into undersea cable operations. These efforts highlight how smaller firms can thrive by addressing niche needs or leveraging emerging technologies.
By improving transatlantic connectivity, this innovation paves the way for better access to global markets, particularly for startups and SMEs relying on cloud and AI solutions. Moreover, it exemplifies how technological advancements can empower smaller firms to contribute meaningfully to critical infrastructure projects, ensuring a more inclusive and dynamic digital economy.
