Bridging Continents with Speed and Resilience
The exponential growth of data consumption demands reliable, high-capacity global connectivity. In partnership with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), Nokia stands at the forefront of the subsea solutions industry, delivering innovative optical transmission systems that redefine performance, flexibility, and efficiency. Nokia’s cutting-edge technology enables record-setting, non-regenerated span lengths, optimal spectral efficiency, and reduced equipment costs, making it a powerhouse in global communications.
Pushing Optical Transmission to New Limits
Nokia’s subsea solutions leverage advanced coherent digital signal processing (DSP) to maximize spectral efficiency and deliver robust performance across vast underwater spans. This technology results in a 25% capacity increase compared to advanced systems and up to a 68% boost over currently deployed systems. By integrating terrestrial and subsea networks through a unified platform, Nokia ensures seamless connectivity and streamlined operations, minimizing the need for additional transponders and regeneration equipment.
Implementing probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS) technology optimizes signals for specific underwater cable characteristics, pushing performance to near-theoretical limits. This approach is crucial for handling the exponential growth in global data consumption, driven by cloud computing, video streaming, and the expanding Internet of Things (IoT).
Flexibility and Efficiency Through Programmable Hardware
One of Nokia’s standout features is its unconstrained flexibility. With identical hardware adaptable to any optical span or capacity requirement, Nokia’s solutions are entirely software-controlled. This adaptability reduces physical space and power consumption while lowering costs by eliminating excess equipment. The modular, chassis-based, and data center design factors powered by AC or DC further enhance Nokia’s scalability and operational efficiency.
Software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities embedded within Nokia’s subsea solutions provide operators with granular control over network configurations, capacity allocations, and performance optimizations. This programmability ensures future-proof scalability and seamless integration with evolving technologies.
Seamless Integration with Terrestrial Networks
Historically, subsea line terminating equipment (SLTE) relied on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to maximize fiber use, requiring costly and cumbersome manual transponder connections. Nokia revolutionizes this approach with its reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM)-based SLTE. Nokia offers flexible wavelength management between terrestrial networks and subsea systems by integrating tunable lasers and wavelength-selectable switches. Operators can now position ROADM SLTEs at cable landing stations or inland points of presence (PoPs), optimizing capacity and simplifying upgrades.
This seamless integration also reduces the need for extensive physical infrastructure, decreasing capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX). Operators gain the flexibility to expand or reconfigure their networks with minimal disruption, aligning capacity investments with market demands.
Enhancing Reliability and Uptime
Nokia’s subsea solutions significantly reduce active equipment and potential failure points, enhancing reliability and uptime. This results in a 70% reduction in physical space requirements and an 80% reduction in operational costs. By enabling multiple SLTEs on a single fiber pair, Nokia allows operators to maximize fiber utilization while ensuring each customer maintains control and security over their network slice.
Advanced monitoring tools and predictive maintenance capabilities further improve network reliability. Real-time analytics detect potential issues before they escalate, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing service interruptions. This focus on uptime is vital for industries reliant on constant data flow, such as financial services, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors.
Building Subsea Resilience with Fault Recovery
Subsea cables are susceptible to damage from geological events and human activities, leading to costly repairs and extended downtimes. Nokia addresses this challenge with ROADM-based SLTEs that facilitate automated traffic rerouting through terrestrial networks using layer-0 GMPLS control. This solution enables predefined service-level agreements (SLAs) between cable operators for mutual fault protection, ensuring uninterrupted service and network resilience.
The ability to reroute traffic dynamically across alternative subsea routes and terrestrial networks ensures business continuity even during significant outages. This resilience is critical for mission-critical applications, including emergency services, financial trading platforms, and global communication networks.
Monetizing Subsea Spectrum with WaveSuite
Nokia’s WaveSuite software empowers operators to unlock new revenue streams by virtualizing unused subsea spectrum. WaveSuite simplifies SLA creation and service performance tracking through open networking principles, allowing operators to lease capacity to terrestrial service providers. These providers can sublease services like MEF carrier Ethernet to other operators or enterprise clients, maximizing subsea cable ROI.
WaveSuite’s user-friendly interface streamlines service activation, network health monitoring, and performance analytics. Operators can swiftly respond to market demands, offer tailored services, and maintain high service quality. The platform’s automation capabilities enable efficient operations while reducing manual intervention.
Case Study: Nokia and Angola Cables – Bridging Continents
Nokia’s groundbreaking partnership with Angola Cables exemplifies the transformative potential of subsea technology. Utilizing Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine 3 (PSE-3) chipset, Angola Cables trialed the first direct optical connection between the USA and Africa. This integration of the South Atlantic Cable System (SACS) and MONET subsea systems enabled 300 Gbps of traffic between Miami and Luanda, delivering low-latency, high-capacity connectivity crucial for Africa’s rapidly growing internet user base.
The deployment of Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect (PSI) platform, powered by probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS), allowed Angola Cables to optimize signal transmission across the 12,635 km subsea cable. This innovation enhances service performance and supports the surging demand for video, cloud services, and future 5G applications across continents.
The SACS and MONET connection improves digital access in Africa, fostering economic growth, digital innovation, and global partnerships. This advancement also accelerates the delivery of digital services, enabling Africa to participate more actively in the global digital economy.
Shaping the Future of Global Connectivity
Nokia’s subsea solutions exemplify the fusion of innovation and practicality. By delivering unmatched capacity, flexibility, and operational efficiency, Nokia empowers operators to meet escalating data demands while unlocking new business opportunities. From advanced optical transmission to fault recovery and monetization tools, Nokia continues to lead the charge in connecting the world beneath the waves.
As data consumption grows and digital transformation accelerates, Nokia’s subsea solutions enable seamless global connectivity, drive economic growth, and foster a digitally inclusive future. Nokia’s ongoing innovation ensures that global communication infrastructure remains resilient, adaptable, and prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
Nokia’s commitment to sustainability also plays a pivotal role in its subsea solutions. Nokia supports environmentally responsible network expansions by minimizing power consumption and reducing physical infrastructure. This dedication to eco-friendly solutions ensures that future connectivity advancements align with global sustainability goals.
About Infinity Technology Solutions
Infinity Technology Solutions specializes in broadband and critical communications infrastructure development. We help our channel partners create and deploy private wireless, microwave backhaul, IP/MPLS, and optical networking technologies.
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