Nokia and Islalink successfully achieved 800Gbps transmission over a 330km (205-mile) unrepeated submarine cable, connecting Crotone, Italy, with Preveza, Greece. The milestone, reached through Nokia’s sixth-generation Photonic Service Engine (PSE-6s), represents a new capacity-reach record for unrepeated optical links. This breakthrough underscores the capabilities of the IONIAN network, launched by Islalink to provide high-capacity, redundant fiber connectivity between Italy and Greece.
The IONIAN network uses C+L band (9.6 THz) to interconnect major cities across Italy and Greece via a submarine link and terrestrial rings. Alongside the submarine trial, Nokia and Islalink tested 1Tbps transmission on Greece’s terrestrial routes: the 452km southern route from Preveza to Athens and the 975km northern route linking Preveza, Thessaloniki, and Athens. The PSE-6s technology reduces network power consumption by 60% per bit, making it an energy-efficient solution for data-intensive operations, including inter-data center connectivity for global tech leaders.
“This successful trial proves that the IONIAN network, powered by Nokia’s PSE-6s, is ready to support the next generation of high-speed digital services,” said Esther Garcés, CEO of Islalink. “Our customers, including tech giants, will benefit from unprecedented capacity, reliability, and efficiency, further enhancing Islalink’s positioning as a key player in the international fiber market.”
• Submarine Transmission Record: 800Gbps capacity achieved over a 330km (205-mile) unrepeated submarine cable between Italy and Greece.
• Terrestrial Success: 1Tbps tested on 452km and 975km terrestrial routes in Greece.
• Energy Efficiency: 60% reduction in power consumption per bit with Nokia’s PSE-6s.
• Network Scope: High-capacity, redundant fiber connections for major cities in Italy and Greece, utilizing C+L band (9.6 THz).
• Applications: Enhanced data center interconnectivity for global tech leaders and other high-demand users.
