It’s been less than a year since Aqua Comms launched its new transatlantic cable system with 100x130Tbps of potential capacity on each of its four fiber pairs. However, they are already looking into the upgrade possibilities ahead.
They have successfully trialed an upgrade solution from Ciena, featuring 150Gbps per wavelength via 8QAM technology. Fully deployed, the solution would boost the total capacity on AEConnect by 50%. They’ve been putting all sorts of Ciena products to the test of course, including the vendor’s 100G wirespeed encryption earlier this year. Who knows what they will actually roll out when the time comes.
AEConnect connects New York City with Killala on the west coast of Ireland, with connection on to London via both terrestrial fiber and AquaComms’ CeltixConnect cable across the Irish Sea. Last month they opened a new PoP at 1025Connect out on Long Island, which has become an interconnection nexus for submarine cables in the area.
Since finishing off the cable system itself, I’ve been waiting to see if Aqua Comms moves toward taking advantage of the branching possibilities they have had on their drawing board. In an Industry Spotlight here last year, CTO Tom McMahon described possible followup branches to Iceland, Scandinavia, or France.
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Categories: Telecom Equipment · Undersea cables
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My money is on an eventual branch to Scandinavia or Iceland.
I suspect that Ireland – France will be done by other(s) via Cork, The terrestrial route from Killala to Cork is fairly direct and nicely diverse from Dublin.