Press Release

Nokia today announced it has set two new world records in submarine optical transmission, both of which will shape the next generation of optical networking equipment.

The first sets a new optical speed record for transoceanic distances. Nokia Bell Labs researchers were able to demonstrate an 800-Gbps data rate at a distance of 7865 km using a single wavelength of light. That distance is two times greater than what current state-of-the-art equipment can transmit at the same capacity and is approximately the geographical distance between Seattle and Tokyo. Nokia Bell Labs achieved this milestone at its optical research testbed in Paris-Saclay, France.

The second record was achieved by both Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia subsidiary Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), establishing a net throughput of 41 Tbps over 291 km via a C-band unrepeated transmission system. C-band unrepeated systems are commonly used to connect islands and offshore platforms to each other and the mainland proper. The previous record for these kinds of systems is 35 Tbps over the same distance. Nokia Bell Labs and ASN broke the record at ASN’s research testbed facility, also in Paris-Saclay.

Nokia Bell Labs and ASN presented the scientific findings behind both records on the 4th and 5th of October at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC), held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Making lasers that blink faster

Nokia Bell Labs and Alcatel Submarine Networks were able to achieve both world records through the innovation of higher-baud-rate technologies. “Baud” measures the number of times per second that an optical laser switches on and off, or “blinks”. Higher baud rates mean higher data throughput and will allow future optical systems to transmit the same capacities per wavelength over far greater distances. In the case of transoceanic systems, these increased baud rates will double the distance at which we could transmit the same amount of capacity, allowing us to efficiently bridge cities on opposite sides of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the case of C-band unrepeated systems, higher baud would allow service providers connecting islands or off-shore platforms to achieve higher capacities with fewer transceivers and without the addition of new frequency bands.

The research behind these two records will have significant impact on the next generation of submarine optical transmission systems. While future deployments of submarine fiber will take advantage of new fiber technologies like multimode and multicore, the existing undersea fiber networks can take advantage of next-generation higher-baud-rate transceivers to boost their performance and increase their long-term viability.

Sylvain Almonacil, Research Engineer at Nokia Bell Labs, said: “With these higher baud rates, we can directly link most of the world’s continents with 800 Gbps of capacity over individual wavelengths. Previously, these distances were inconceivable for that capacity. Furthermore, we’re not resting on our achievement. This world record is the next step toward next-generation Terabit-per-second submarine transmissions over individual wavelengths.”

Hans Bissessur, Unrepeated Systems Group leader at ASN, said: “These research advances show that that we can achieve better performance over the existing fiber infrastructure. Whether these optical systems are crisscrossing the world or linking the islands of an archipelago, we can extend their lifespans.”

The submarine network landscape is evolving. Join the industry in discussion at Submarine Networks EMEA, the world’s largest subsea cable event

Also in the news:
VEON closes the door on Russia
Telefonica considers stake sale of Telefonica Tech
FCC fines DISH $150,000 after failure to decommission satellite as planned

American Tower Corporation a leading independent owner, operator and developer of wireless and broadcast communications real estate, has released its 2022 sustainability report in which it says it has decreased its direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (scope 1) by 11% from 2019.

As for its African operation, the company says that through investment of more than US$350 million in renewable energy deployments, sophisticated energy storage solutions and energy reduction initiatives in Africa since 2018, ATC has decreased its on-site diesel consumption by an estimated 43.5 million litres annually when compared to business-as-usual operations. This equates to roughly 117,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) avoided.

To achieve such goals, ATC Africa has deployed on-site solar power and lithium-ion batteries and has adopted advanced technologies to drive energy efficiency at its tower sites. The company last year launched a Green Sites initiative in Africa to ensure that all newly built sites meet American Tower’s Green Site specifications, which require the sites to generate less than four MTCO2e per year.

In addition, the company, through its Kenya operations, plans to substitute 30% of its diesel fuel with biodiesel, which has, through a successful proof of concept, already delivered an approximate 16% reduction in GHG emissions when compared to traditional diesel.

As of 2022, over 45% of sites in American Tower’s global portfolio – more than 100,000 sites – have achieved ISO 14001 certification. ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system.

The company is working to increase this, with additional markets in Africa and Latin America pursuing certification by 2025.

A few interesting items worth catching up on: … [visit site to read more]

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News

VEON have announced the closing of the sale of its Russian operations to members of the senior management team of PJSC VimpelCom, led by VimpelCom CEO Alexander Torbakhov.

There is no buy-back arrangement and so this is a complete exit from the Russian market for VEON leaving the company to focus on its operations in Pakistan, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu commented “I am pleased to note that we are now in a much stronger position to deliver our strategic priorities. We would like to thank all our stakeholders and regulatory bodies, including U.S. Treasury, who have supported our Company through this process.”

Amsterdam, headquartered VEON now provides connectivity and digital services to nearly 160 million customers representing around 7% of the world’s population.

VEON will be joining the lineup for Total Telecom Congress in Amsterdam this November, with Lasha Tabidze, Group Chief Digital Operations Officer and Ana de Kok Reyes, Group Diversity & Inclusion Officer speaking. To join them, register at totaltele.com/congress

Residential fiber is big right now, and yet it’s just getting started.  With all the money backing FTTH buildouts right now, it’s hard to remember how many places there are that you would think have plenty of options but don’t.  One such region is California’s Orange County, which is where Cityside Fiber has started rolling out deep fiber infrastructure.  With us today to talk about Cityside’s plans, progress, and vision is Founder and CEO Rod Hanson. … [visit site to read more]

News 

Telefonica Tech was unveiled during Telefonica’s 2019 restructuring 

Telefonica is considering the sale of a stake in its technology unit Telefonica Tech, which provides the management of cloud operations on Microsoft Azure and AWS, as well as offering cybersecurity services and IoT solutions. 

According to initial reports from Bloomberg, Telefonica have been approaching investment funds to gauge their interest in buying an undisclosed stake in the unit. 

The entire Telefonica Group is valued at around €22 billion, with net debt of €31.4 billion. According to sources, the Telefonica Tech could be valued at around €2 billion if the deal goes ahead. 

Although the talks are still ongoing, there is no guarantee that the company will give the divestment the green light, according to sources. 

Last month, Saudi Arabia’s largest telecoms operator STC group acquired a 9.9% stake in Telefonica worth €2.1 billion, which allowed them to become the company’s largest shareholder. There has been indication at this stage as to whether STC have approved the possible sale of the tech unit. 

Answers will presumably be presented by Telefonica CEO Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete alongside a new three-year strategic plan set to be announced in November, with the company planning its first Capital Markets Day in over a decade.   

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Also in the news:
Ofcom refers public cloud market to CMA for investigation
UK joins Global Coalition on Telecommunications
TPG Telecom and Vocus need more time to iron out fibre deal

News

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said the defunct satellite “could pose orbital debris concerns”

This week, the FCC has issued DISH with a fine of $150,000 after the US television provider failed to de-orbit one of its retiring satellites correctly.

DISH launched its EchoStar-7 satellite back in 2002, leaving it sitting in geostationary orbit and using it to broadcast television services for over 20 years.

By 2012, DISH was already making plans for EchoStar-7’s retirement, agreeing with the FCC that it would propel the satellite an additional 300km away from the Earth, pushing it into what is known as a ‘graveyard orbit’. This is done to reduce space debris in the more congested operational orbits, thereby reducing the chance that the inoperable satellite would collide with operational spacecraft.

This process was expected to take place in 2022. However, when it came to performing the crucial manoeuvre, DISH reportedly discovered that EchoStar-7 did not have enough fuel to increase its orbit by the planned 300km, making it only 122km above its previous position.

This failure to dispose of their satellite as planned has led the FCC to issue its first ever fine for the creation of space debris.

“This marks a first in space debris enforcement by the Commission, which has stepped up its satellite policy efforts, including establishing the Space Bureau and implementing its Space Innovation Agenda.  The settlement includes an admission of liability from the company and an agreement to adhere to a compliance plan and pay a penalty of $150,000,” said the FCC’s statement.

“As satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates, we must be certain that operators comply with their commitments,” added Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan A. Egal.  “This is a breakthrough settlement, making very clear the FCC has strong enforcement authority and capability to enforce its vitally important space debris rules.”

DISH accepted responsibility for the error.

As communication satellite constellations become increasingly common around the world, so too does the threat of orbital space debris. At its theoretical worst, the density of space pollution could lead to the Kessler syndrome, a scenario whereby collisions between orbital objects cause a cascade of further collisions, essentially making satellite activities impossible for many years.

As a result, the FCC has gradually been increasing regulation what happens to satellites after their decommissioning, such as proposing that satellites are deorbited no later than five years after their retirement, down from the 25 years previously required by NASA.

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Also in the news:
Hyperoptic celebrates 300,000 customer milestone
UK joins Global Coalition on Telecommunications
SKT and Luxembourg team up for quantum research 

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