Aqua Comms, a global leader in subsea telecommunications solutions, and Ciena (NYSE: CIEN), a pioneer in networking systems, services, and software, have reached a major milestone in the subsea cable industry. The two companies have successfully completed the first-ever 1.3 Tb/s wavelength transmission spanning 5,500 km across the Atlantic. This technological achievement was made possible by Ciena’s cutting-edge WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e), a fully programmable coherent technology that supports wavelength speeds of up to 1.6 Tb/s.
In addition to this groundbreaking accomplishment, Aqua Comms and Ciena achieved a second world-first by completing an 800 Gb/s wavelength transmission across a total unregenerated distance of over 11,000 km — connecting the USA to Ireland and back. This success leverages the flexible baud and line rate capabilities of WL6e, which was finely tuned during the trial from 200GBaud to 150GBaud. The ability to dynamically adjust these parameters highlights how the technology allows Aqua Comms to optimize capacity and more efficiently utilize its spectrum resources.
Driving Efficiency and Reducing Environmental Impact
These milestones were achieved on Aqua Comms’ AEC-1 subsea cable route, marking a significant leap forward in spectral efficiency and energy use. By maximizing subsea transmission rates, Aqua Comms can improve spectral efficiency by approximately 15% and cut power consumption by more than 50% compared to the previous generation of Ciena transponders. This not only enhances performance but also aligns with the industry’s growing focus on sustainability.
Aqua Comms is committed to reducing its environmental footprint, with a goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2030. These advancements in subsea transmission technology contribute to that ambition, showing how innovation can help meet rising bandwidth demands while minimizing environmental impact.
Setting New Industry Benchmarks
The successful implementation of 800 Gb/s wavelength transmission over distances exceeding 11,000 km sets new benchmarks for the subsea cable industry. These accomplishments demonstrate that high-capacity 800G transport is now feasible on a global scale, paving the way for more efficient, future-proof networks.
“Aqua Comms’ multiple trans-Atlantic cables, powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme, will keep ahead of ever-increasing bandwidth demands while contributing towards Aqua Comms’ goal of hitting 100% renewable energy by 2030,” said Thomas Grant, Chief Network Officer at Aqua Comms. “These reductions align with industry goals to minimize the environmental footprint of subsea networks — a critical priority as we continue to connect the world more efficiently.”
Jamie Jefferies, Vice President and General Manager, International, at Ciena, also praised the collaboration, stating, “Ciena is once again setting new records with our industry-leading WaveLogic technology. Aqua Comms is an established leader in global subsea connectivity, and these technology milestones are excellent examples of how they are preparing their network to satisfy surging bandwidth demands.”
The collaboration between Aqua Comms and Ciena is a testament to the power of innovation in driving the next generation of subsea connectivity. With the ability to deliver unprecedented transmission speeds and optimized efficiency over vast distances, this partnership is setting the stage for the future of global data transport. As the world’s demand for high-capacity, low-latency subsea networks continues to rise, these technological advancements will be essential in shaping the industry’s next phase of growth.
To learn more about Aqua Comms, visit here.
To learn more about Ciena, visit here.
