ACE cable system consortium has selected Ciena to upgrade one of the key routes linking Western Europe, West Africa, and South Africa. Stretching approximately 17,000 km across 18 landing stations, the system uses Ciena’s 6500 powered by WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) to deliver more than 30 Tb/s.
- ACE modernization meets rising connectivity demand from more than 500 million people
- Deployment expands bandwidth over current infrastructure while limiting disruption to live traffic
- Enhanced automation and visibility help operators plan future scale and manage services more efficiently
“International routes drive economic growth, digital inclusion, and cloud adoption across Africa, and this upgrade gives regional service providers a high-capacity path that reaches more than 500 million people,” said Philippe Recco, President, ACE Management Committee. “Ciena’s coherent optical technology and proven Services team give us confidence that we can keep customers connected while meeting expanding bandwidth needs.”
Ciena Services is deploying WL6e over ACE’s existing submarine line terminal equipment to scale the system while reducing the need for complex traffic migrations. The team also manages ongoing maintenance and transformation as ACE prepares for greater demand for resilient connectivity across Africa and between Africa and Europe.
“Ciena supports this vital link between Africa and the rest of the world with our subsea deployment expertise and coherent optical innovations,” said Thomas Soerenson, Vice President, Global Subsea, Ciena. “Together, we are expanding existing cable infrastructure and developing a long-term technology roadmap for future growth with minimal operational impact.”
The consortium also uses Ciena’s Navigator Network Control Suite to gain complete visualization and management of its services. Liquid Spectrum apps such as Channel Margin Gauge provide real-time visibility into the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) margin for wavelengths, helping ACE identify opportunities to add capacity.
About ACE Submarine Cable System
The ACE – Africa Coast to Europe Submarine Cable system connects Europe, West Africa and South Africa through a high speed fiber optic system. More than 500 million people and 20 countries are connected with a distance of 17,000 km either directly for coastal countries or through land links for landlocked countries such as Mali and Niger.
ACE is the first international submarine cable to land in Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Sao Tomé and Principe and Sierra Leone.
Equipped to offer up to 400 Gbs access, ACE reduces the digital divide by providing high performance connectivity and maximizes the possibilities of Internet interconnection and traffic exchanges in Africa since December 2012.
About Ciena
Ciena is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world’s most advanced networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, interconnects, automation software, and services, Ciena revolutionizes data transmission and network management. With unparalleled expertise and innovation, we empower our customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn or visit the Ciena website.
