Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth - separating continents, and separating people. Submarine telecom networks have broken submerged distance barriers. By acting as massive data highways linking all the continents, submarine cable networks have helped achieve the current level of globalization.
The convergence of services (broadband internet + video on demand + voice) is becoming a significant reality. The need to develop and adapt existing networks to meet these new challenges. To run their global businesses, operators and service-providers rely on submarine networks for voice, data and Internet communications. Meeting their requirements calls for network reliability and technology innovation: that's Alcatel!
From single network elements to integrated, modular network solutions, from city-to-city to transcontinental networks, Alcatel provides every part of a global transmission network, all tailored to its customers' needs. A very comprehensive service portfolio- from business plans and feasibility studies to installation and maintenance - completes its turnkey offering for the submarine business.
Alcatel's dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical submarine systems that transmit light undersea to safely and quickly connect people, businesses and countries has vastly contributed to globalization. With the most successful track record on the market, Alcatel brings advanced and proven DWDM technology and a turnkey approach to submarine networks to enable operators and service-providers rely on submarine networks for voice, data and Internet communications.
Leveraging its over 150 years of experience in the submarine business, as well as worldwide leadership in the global optical networking market since 2001 according to Ovum-RHK , Alcatel leads the industry in terms of:
- Capacity - with up to 10 Tbit/s using the latest dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) technology: more than 120 million simultaneous phone calls, 16,000 CD-ROMS or 1,600 high definition movies.
- Installed base - with over 461,500 km of submarine networks, enough to circle the globe at the Equator 11 times.
Alcatel has been involved in most of the major submarine projects launched over the past two years and a half including Sea-Me-We 4, FALCON, the Sea-Me-We 3 upgrade, Canada's University of Victoria (NEPTUNE Canada subsea-cabled observatory), Columbus Communications (FibraLink network), Global Caribbean Network, Global Crossing, Kodiak Kenai Cable Company for the Kodiak Kenai Fiber Link (KKFL), INFN for NEMO undersea telescope in the Mediterranean, Maroc Telecom, Middle Caribbean Network, Orascom Telecom and the SAT-3/WASC network upgrade.