Vocus, an Australian telecommunications and network solutions firm, has recently amplified the capacity of its cable link connecting Melbourne and Adelaide. This enhancement allows the utilization of 800 gigabits per second technology, providing customers access to services with speeds reaching up to 400 Gbps. The company is also in the process of adopting advanced 1.6Tbps technology for its transit connections.
This expansion employs the same advanced technology Vocus previously utilized in its November 2022 upgrade of the Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne network pathways. The technology, known as dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), employs both the optical C-band (1530-1565nm wavelengths) and L-band (1565-1625nm wavelengths).
Vocus emphasizes that this combined approach effectively doubles the capacity when compared to systems that solely rely on the C-band.
The primary objective of this upgrade is to cater to the burgeoning demands of hyperscale cloud providers, who require rapid data transfer between cloud regions. The improved infrastructure is set to foster the expansion of artificial intelligence systems, automation, and video applications.
Vocus attributes the heightened demand for enhanced transmission capabilities to significant investments in data centers, such as Microsoft’s upcoming Kemps Creek data center in western Sydney and NEXTDC’s expansive plans spanning facilities in Adelaide, Darwin, Port Hedland, as well as expansions in Melbourne and Sydney.
Jarrod Nink, Chief Operating Officer of Vocus, highlights that AI operations in hyperscale cloud environments necessitate substantial amounts of computing, storage, and networking power. He notes, “Large language models are processing trillions of parameters, petabytes of data, and usage is predicted to drive material bandwidth growth.”
The 400 Gbps technology becomes feasible through the application of Ciena optical transponders, which leverage the C and L bands to accommodate additional wavelengths for the optical signal.
This upgraded capacity empowers cloud providers to swiftly and efficiently transfer and replicate substantial data volumes between diverse cloud regions and data centers. As a result, the time required for such operations is significantly diminished.
Vocus has also committed to further enhancements across its nationwide network by adopting the 1.6 Tbps technology. The company has outlined its intentions to strengthen its Sydney-to-Brisbane and Adelaide-to-Perth links, with the expected rollout of increased capacity slated for 2024.
Nink adds that this progression will enable Vocus to offer 400 Gbps connectivity across the coast next year, and the company has already committed to the utilization of next-generation 1600 Gbps technology for its transit links.
With the upgraded cable route between Melbourne and Adelaide, coupled with the planned 1.6Tbps upgrade, Vocus is well-positioned to equip Australian businesses with the high-speed connectivity required to drive innovation and facilitate digital transformation.