The news comes as SEACOM recently upgraded its subsea cable system along Africa’s East Coast to a maximum of 1.5Tbps, in attempt by the company to provide its customers with best-in-class connectivity.
The upgrade project was announced back in 2013 and used Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and OneControl Unified Management System to carry out the works.
“Through this project, we have upgraded the terminating equipment and capacity on our existing route and have installed the latest, most advanced optical network system on the new FibreCo route,” said Byron Clatterbuck, CEO of SEACOM.
At the start of this month, FibreCo completed its open access dark fibre link along the N3 highway, which spans more than 843km. As a result of the installation SEACOM is able to operate their own high-capacity fibre along this route, increasing uptake of their connectivity and cloud services within the region.
In addition, by adding the new route, SEACOM has significantly improved resiliency on its own international network, and is able to offer fully protected, highly reliable services between data centres in Johannesburg, Durban and the SEACOM cable station in Mtunzini.
The project also enables SEACOM to futureproof the route for further capacity upgrades in Germiston, Heidelberg, Harrismith and other towns along the N3.
“By owning and operating a fully resilient fibre-based ring, we hope to continue supporting, and enabling, South African businesses to grow within Africa and beyond,” added Clatterbuck.
