Telecom Lead Africa: Seacom has selected Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and OneControl Unified Management System for upgrading its submarine network across the Southern and Eastern African coastlines.
Seacom’s initiatives are aimed at developing the African internet for African consumers.
Ciena, which will offer 40G coherent transport technology, with long distance 100G wavelengths planned for future upgrades, will enable Seacom to meet the growing capacity demands of its customers and enable Internet access to East Africa with the network.
The upgrade includes countries in Seacom’s 17,000km undersea network, including India, Egypt, Dijbouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa.
Claes Segelberg, chief technology officer at Seacom, said: “Our network design has mitigated the risks associated with the upgrade project, ensuring a seamless transition for Seacom’s carrier customers and end users.”
Seacom is a privately owned and operated pan-African ICT enabler that is driving the development of the African internet. Seacom financed and developed the first broadband submarine cable system along the eastern and southern African coastlines, bringing with it a vast supply of high quality and affordable internet.
Live since July 2009, Seacom has seen more than 10 fold increases in bandwidth penetration in several of Africa’s most underserved nations.
Seacom leverages its bundled backhaul, open access points of presence and global partnerships, to provide high quality, cost-effective, end-to-end connectivity around the world. Seacom also provides these services to landlocked countries in southern and eastern Africa.
