Aqua Comms and Ciena have set a new subsea connectivity milestone by transmitting a 1.3 Tbps wavelength across 5,500 kilometers (3,417 miles) of the Atlantic Ocean. The trial, powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e), marks the first application of fully programmable coherent technology capable of reaching speeds of up to 1.6 Tbps per wavelength. Aqua Comms conducted the trial on its AEC-1 cable route, demonstrating a 15% improvement in spectral efficiency and over 50% reduction in power consumption compared to previous technology.
The companies also achieved an 800 Gbps wavelength transmission over a total unregenerated distance of 11,000 kilometers (6,835 miles) between the United States and Ireland. By dynamically tuning WL6e from 200GBaud to 150GBaud, Aqua Comms optimized capacity and spectrum efficiency across the network. These advancements enable global-scale transport of 800G clients while addressing growing bandwidth demands.
The trials align with Aqua Comms’ sustainability goals, including reducing the environmental impact of subsea networks. The enhanced spectral efficiency and energy savings reinforce the company’s efforts to achieve 100% renewable energy usage by 2030 while maintaining a cutting-edge subsea infrastructure.
Key Points
• 1.3 Tbps Transmission: Achieved over 5,500 km (3,417 miles) across the Atlantic using WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e).
• 800 Gbps Transmission: Completed over 11,000 km (6,835 miles) between the U.S. and Ireland.
• Efficiency Gains: Improved spectral efficiency by 15% and reduced power consumption by over 50%.
• Dynamic Tuning: WL6e demonstrated baud rate adjustments from 200GBaud to 150GBaud.
• Sustainability: Supports Aqua Comms’ goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.
“Aqua Comms’ trans-Atlantic cables, powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme, ensure we stay ahead of bandwidth demands while advancing our environmental commitments,” said Thomas Grant, Chief Network Officer at Aqua Comms.
