Computerworld

Southern Cross Cable Network rolls out 100G expansion

Ciena equipment increases capacity across two cables to 2.6Tbps

Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN) has implemented Ciena’s 100G transmission equipment across its submarine network to meet demands for data networking services.

The 6500 packet optical platform will also help the company manage traffic growth driven by cloud computing, video and other high-bandwidth services. The submarine network covers 30,000 kilometres between Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

According to Southern Cross sales and marketing director Ross Pfeffer, the transmission equipment increases total lit capacity across the two cables to 2.6 terabits (Tbps) per second.

“If deployed on all fibres, along with gridless optical networking, our potential capacity capability increases to 12Tbps, between Australia, New Zealand and the United States,” he said in a statement.

“Retail broadband data caps have expanded dramatically on the back of current international capacity prices in both Australia and New Zealand with demand for capacity continuing to grow at around 35 to 40 per cent annually.”

He added that SCCN first introduced the Ciena 6500 packet optical platform in 2011 to future proof its network.

“With direct connectivity to Southern Cross capacity now available from key Internet data centres such as Equinix in Sydney, CoreSite in San Jose, California and the Westin Building in Seattle, Washington it is easier than ever for our customers to access high-capacity connectivity,” said Pfeffer.

SCCN is owned by Telecom NZ (50 per cent), Singtel-Optus (40 per cent) and Verizon Business (10 per cent). It has offices in Bermuda, Sydney, Auckland and Wellington.

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