Seacom’s Major Submarine Cable Network Upgrade
Seacom is embarking on a significant enhancement of its submarine cable network along the Southern and Eastern African coastlines. This upgrade utilizes Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and the OneControl Unified Management System, reflecting Seacom’s commitment to advancing internet infrastructure in Africa and improving broadband accessibility for consumers.
Enhancing Internet Capacity and Accessibility
This technological upgrade is designed to meet the rising capacity needs of Seacom’s customers. The initiative aims to provide affordable internet access in East Africa, offering a favorable cost structure and a streamlined path for future advancements.
Key Regions Impacted by the Upgrade
The upgrade will affect significant countries within the 17,000km submarine network, including India, Egypt, Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. The new solution will facilitate rapid capacity delivery and cater to future demands. Initially, the deployment will utilize Ciena’s 40G coherent transport technology, with plans for ultra-long distance 100G wavelengths in subsequent phases.
The Growth of Connectivity in Africa
“Connectivity services in Africa are experiencing remarkable growth due to the increasing demands of business IT users, the rise of cloud services, and the growing need for data processing and storage,” stated Claes Segelberg, the chief technology officer at Seacom. “This upgrade positions us to scale our capacity efficiently to meet the surging demand for connectivity across the continent.”
Future-Proofing with Advanced Technology
Ed McCormack, vice president and general manager of submarine systems at Ciena, noted, “In recent years, bandwidth penetration in several African nations has surged tenfold, thanks to Seacom’s submarine network. Our technology will pave the way for a blended terrestrial and submarine network, progressing towards a GeoMesh network architecture.”
As this significant upgrade unfolds, what do you think will be the biggest impact on internet access in Africa?