The Havhingsten cable system provides a new, diverse route and the lowest latency between Ireland, UK and the Nordics
Dublin, Ireland and Oslo, Norway - March 24, 2022 - Aqua Comms, a leading provider of network connectivity services, Bulk Fiber Networks, a leading builder and operator of fiber network infrastructure, and Meta have completed the construction of the Havhingsten cable system. A fully funded project, the parties have contracted with Alcatel Submarine Networks (“ASN”) to build the subsea cable, which will bring greater connectivity in Europe and the Nordics.
This new route represents true diversity avoiding congested paths across the English Channel and offers resilient network architecture options for enterprises, carriers and hyperscalers whilst delivering the lowest latency available between Dublin and the Nordic region.
The Havhingsten cable system showcased several key innovations and technological milestones throughout its design and construction.
Firstly, Havhingsten is the world’s first aluminum conductor powered subsea cable system. As a material, aluminum allows for a much lower cable conductor voltage drop, which ultimately allows for a higher number of fiber pairs per cable. To achieve such innovative solutions requires investment in technology and close collaboration with partners and vendors. The removal of traditional copper raw material and replacement with aluminum from the manufacturing process benefits the overall system in efficiency and cost reduction, as copper is associated with variable availability and higher price. Additional benefits include, lighter aluminum allows more cable to be loaded onto an installation vessel and improved resistance to hydrogen penetration, an element which is unfavorable to the operation of optical fiber in ocean waters.
Secondly, the end-to-end system combines data transmission seamlessly across both an unrepeatered subsea segment in the Irish Sea, a terrestrial segment in the UK and a repeatered segment in the North Sea. Typical systems have one or two of these elements, but not all three.
Lastly, the system utilized a new enhanced, jet-assisted burial plough in both the North and Irish Sea segments, allowing the installers of the system to bury the cable to our specific demanding level of protection in very challenging seabed conditions along the route.
About Aqua Comms:
Aqua Comms is a leading provider of global subsea connectivity services delivered through an extensive portfolio of owned and operated subsea systems. Aqua Comms offers connectivity networking solutions including managed capacity services, spectrum and dark fibre to the global content, cloud and carrier markets.
To learn more about Aqua Comms and its portfolio of connectivity networking solutions visit www.aquacomms.com
In April 2021, Aqua Comms DAC was acquired by Digital 9 Infrastructure plc (D9), an LSE listed investment trust managed by Triple Point Investment Management LLP.
D9 is a digital infrastructure investment trust that has raised over US$ 1.1 billion since its IPO in March 2021, investing into data centres and fibre networks. Its team has over US$ 300 billion transactional and operational experience in digital infrastructure. The number 9 in Digital 9 Infrastructure comes from the UN Sustainable Development Goal number 9, which focuses the fund on investments that bridge the digital divide by increasing connectivity globally and that improve the environmental sustainability of digital infrastructure.
To learn more about D9 visit www. https://www.d9infrastructure.com
About Bulk Fiber Networks
Bulk Fiber Networks is a leading builder and operator of fiber network infrastructure, tailor-made to meet the growing demands of large-scale data and cloud service providers in the Nordics, the US and Europe. We offer some of the shortest, lowest-latency international and intra-Nordic fiber routes available.
About Meta
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.
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