- BW Digital achieved 1.2 Tb/s per wavelength over 4,300 km on the Hawaiki cable using Ciena’s WL6e technology.
- The trial indicates potential for enhancing existing submarine networks’ capacity and efficiency without new infrastructure.
What happened: Hawaiki sets 1.2 Tb/s record over 4,300 km with Ciena’s WaveLogic 6
BW Digital has achieved a data transmission speed of 1.2 terabits per second (Tb/s) per wavelength over a 4,300 km segment of the Hawaiki Transpacific Cable system. This milestone was accomplished using Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) coherent optical technology, deployed on the Waveserver platform and supported by Ciena’s Reconfigurable Line System (RLS). The trial marks a significant advancement in long-haul submarine network capabilities.
The Hawaiki cable, operational since 2018, spans 15,000 km, connecting Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, Hawaii, and the U.S. west coast. This recent trial demonstrates the potential for increased capacity and efficiency in existing submarine infrastructure.
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Why it’s important
This achievement underscores the evolving demands for higher-capacity and energy-efficient transpacific connectivity.The successful implementation of WL6e technology over an existing cable system suggests that substantial upgrades in data transmission rates are feasible without the need for new infrastructure. This could have implications for future network planning and investment strategies in the region.
