BW Digital has achieved a major milestone in subsea data transmission, hitting a record 1.2 terabits per second per wavelength over 4,300 kilometres of the Hawaiki Transpacific Cable system. The announcement highlights ongoing efforts to meet growing demand for high-capacity and energy-efficient connectivity between Australasia and the United States.
Field trial sets benchmark for sustainable capacity
The successful field trial was carried out using Ciena’s GeoMesh Extreme, powered by WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) coherent optical technology. The test ran over Ciena’s Waveserver interconnect platforms and its Reconfigurable Line System (RLS) submarine line terminating equipment.
WL6e technology significantly improves spectral efficiency and reduces space and power use per bit compared to its predecessor. This means BW Digital can now scale its cable system more sustainably as demand rises, enabling more efficient data transmission with a smaller environmental footprint.
Enabling high-capacity transpacific connectivity
The Hawaiki cable, in operation since 2018, spans 15,000 kilometres and links data centres across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and the US. As a key part of the regional and transpacific network ecosystem, the system supports critical infrastructure needs and growing bandwidth requirements for organisations in the region.
Virginie Frouin, Chief Business Officer at BW Digital, said, “The trial results announced today validate our strategy to focus on innovation to offer scalable, high-capacity solutions to our customers while constantly improving sustainability. By integrating cutting-edge technology into our cable infrastructure, we further strengthen our digital ecosystem and create opportunities for our customers to leverage spectrum sharing and maximise their investment as the pace of innovation increases.”
Industry collaboration to push technical boundaries
The trial also underscores the long-standing collaboration between BW Digital and Ciena in enhancing subsea network performance. Ivan Polizzi, Regional Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands at Ciena, added, “BW Digital’s WL6e trial underscores the readiness of advanced coherent optics in improving the sustainability and operational economics of managing submarine networks today. Our long-standing collaboration with BW Digital continues to deliver technical and operational milestones, demonstrating the value of innovation in long-haul subsea cable systems.”
As demand for faster, more efficient data services continues to climb, this milestone sets a new benchmark in transpacific subsea cable capabilities.
