FP Telecommunications and Alcatel Submarine Networks to launch Aurora cable

FP Telecommunications and Alcatel Submarine Networks to launch Aurora cable

FP Telecommunications (FPT) and Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) have signed an agreement for the deployment of the Aurora submarine cable system.

The Aurora submarine cable system will run from Sarasota, in West Florida, to Manta, in Ecuador, via Panama. It will operate on ASN's submarine system technology and will support the regional social and economic development. An overall investment $310 million will be into the project and the new cable will support increasing bandwidth demands for broadband applications in North, Central and South America.

Once live, the new system will deliver up to 15Tbps of capacity, strengthening the existing network infrastructure in the region which has a limited ability to increase capacity or the capability to manage growing demands such as: a larger user base, bandwidth growth, 4G/5G networks, low latency applications, Video on Demand, Internet of Things and Big Data. 

Commenting on the news Luiz Fuschini, chairman and president of FPT, said: "We are honored to partner with Alcatel Submarine Networks to build the Aurora cable, which will put us in a leadership position in Central America and on the Pacific Coast of South America. Aurora represents the first of many projects we are planning in order to position FPT as one of the top 10 subsea cable system companies. We are well aware of how communications infrastructures are important for the regions and contributing to its development is one of our company's key values, following United Nations' goals”.

The solution to be deployed by Alcatel Submarine Networks will include the 1620 SOFTNODE, which incorporates multiple transmission formats to maximize delivered capacity at the lowest cost per bit. The system is also designed to enable extension to Chile and to connect to the United States without intermediate regeneration also leveraging ROADM branching units, which are part of ASN's product portfolio also including Wavelength Selective Switch technology (WSS). As part of the agreement, ASN will also be in charge of project management, system design, marine operations and system commissioning.

Philippe Piron, president of Alcatel Submarine Networks, added: "The Aurora submarine cable system confirms the need for high-capacity infrastructures which are able to cope with business and end-user requirements for data center connections, cloud computing and content sharing applications. We are pleased to cooperate with FP Telecommunications on the Aurora submarine cable system and to contribute to further help foster the opportunities offered by new innovative technologies for a connected world."

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