Colt Technology Services and Ciena completed the first 1.2 Tbps wavelength transmission across the Atlantic Ocean on Colt’s Grace Hopper subsea cable. This achievement marks a leap in transatlantic network performance, leveraging Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology to both double wavelength capacity and slash power consumption by 50% compared to previous technologies.
The test demonstrated that Colt’s subsea infrastructure could handle 1.2 Tbps per wavelength, increasing spectral efficiency by around 15%. This increase supports larger data transfers, helping businesses meet demands for higher capacity and lower latency on global routes without compromising sustainability goals. The Grace Hopper cable, spanning 6400 km, connects Bude, Cornwall, to New York, adding substantial connectivity between the UK and the US.
Ciena’s WL6e technology, a 3nm silicon-based transceiver, allows Colt to support bulk 400Gbe services and prepares the network for future 800Gbe services. Colt expects to deploy WL6e across its production network to offer its customers enhanced optical capabilities, strengthening connections across North America and Europe and enabling new options for on-demand optical services.
• Colt and Ciena completed the first 1.2 Tbps wavelength trial across a transatlantic cable.
• Achieved a 50% reduction in power usage, increasing network efficiency and sustainability.
• Grace Hopper cable connects Bude, UK, and New York, spanning 6400 km (3980 miles).
• Colt’s network enhancements prepare it for 400Gbe services, with potential for 800Gbe.
• Ciena’s WL6e transceiver enables capacity up to 1.6 Tbps per wavelength.
“We have a long track record in testing and delivering pioneering digital infrastructure technologies, and it’s incredibly exciting to extend this to our subsea capabilities with this terabit trial,” said Buddy Bayer, chief operating officer at Colt Technology Services. “This achievement with Ciena is a gamechanger: it’s a fantastic example of Colt joining forces to push technology boundaries that will help our customers meet their financial, operational, and environmental goals.”
