Telxius and Ciena have announced a significant breakthrough in transatlantic connectivity with the successful transmission of a 1.3 terabits per second (Tb/s) signal over a single optical wavelength across the Atlantic Ocean. This was achieved via Telxius’ 6,600-kilometer Marea submarine cable, which links Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Bilbao, Spain.
The achievement sets a new industry benchmark for both capacity and efficiency in long-haul subsea communications.
In addition to the record-setting data rate, the collaboration between Telxius and optical networking specialist Ciena also established the highest spectral efficiency ever recorded across the Atlantic, achieving 7.0 bits per second per hertz (bits/s/Hz). The milestone was made possible by Ciena’s next-generation WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) coherent optical technology, which leverages advanced 3-nanometer silicon to dramatically boost network performance and energy efficiency.
Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme
Carlos Dasi, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Telxius, emphasized the importance of continued investment in optical innovation. “This milestone demonstrates our ability to deliver higher capacities over even the longest distances,” said Mr. Dasi. “Ciena’s WL6e allows us to expand efficiently, delivering performance that matches the demands of today’s digital economy.”
Ciena’s Thomas Soerensen, Vice President of Global Submarine Solutions, noted the growing need for bandwidth across data-intensive applications such as artificial intelligence, video, cloud services, and content delivery. “This innovation ensures that Telxius can provide scalable, high-capacity, and low-latency routes, keeping pace with dynamic customer requirements,” he said.
Telxius plans to deploy WaveLogic 6 Extreme across additional submarine systems in its network, underscoring its commitment to leading-edge, sustainable infrastructure to support future data demands.
