The live trial successfully transmitted a 1.6 Tbps channel error-free across Altibox Carrier’s production network. It marked a new industry benchmark in subsea spectral efficiency and capacity, achieving more than 9 b/s/Hz. The result confirms that next-generation terabit wavelengths are now ready for practical subsea operations.
According to Ciena, WL6e delivers significant improvements in capacity and spectral efficiency compared to earlier generations, while maintaining strict performance requirements on a live subsea span. This demonstrates the solution’s readiness to support rising data traffic driven by artificial intelligence, content distribution, video services, and cloud applications.
Altibox Carrier emphasized that incorporating WL6e into its technology roadmap will further strengthen network scalability and intelligence. The company views this milestone as a key step to efficiently and sustainably manage traffic growth across international routes.
This progress follows Altibox Carrier’s earlier 800G network upgrade, which deployed Ciena’s Waveserver 5 platform powered by WaveLogic 5 Extreme and the 6500 flexible grid open line system. That upgrade connected Norway to digital hubs in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Hamburg, supporting the region’s growing role in global connectivity.
Svein Arild Ims, CEO of Altibox Carrier, said: “The global data center market, especially in Norway, is undergoing historic expansion. This positions us to deliver higher-capacity, resilient pathways across Europe and to key international hubs.”
Thomas Soerensen, Vice President, Global Submarine Solutions at Ciena, added: “Altibox Carrier and Ciena have once again joined forces to reinforce Norway’s position as a leading data center hub. This industry-first milestone and planned deployment of WaveLogic 6 will allow Altibox Carrier to efficiently scale its network and address surging bandwidth demands driven by AI, cloud and data center expansion.”
The achievement underscores the growing importance of subsea infrastructure in addressing rapidly rising global bandwidth needs. By deploying WL6e, Altibox Carrier and Ciena are showcasing how advanced optical technologies can enhance subsea performance while meeting efficiency and sustainability goals.
With this accomplishment, Altibox Carrier strengthens its role in connecting Norway with Europe’s major digital centers and beyond. For Ciena, the demonstration highlights the adaptability of WaveLogic 6 Extreme to deliver higher spectral efficiency and capacity in live subsea environments, ensuring readiness for the data-intensive applications shaping global communications.
Overall, the trial demonstrates both companies’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of optical networking and preparing subsea systems for the next wave of bandwidth growth. It also highlights the role of strategic collaboration in enabling innovation that supports the expanding digital economy.
