Cabling

Exclusive interview with Submarine Networks EMEA organisers

Ahead of the upcoming Submarine Networks EMEA 2025 event, taking place on 18-19 February at the Business Design Centre in London, Simon Rowley, Editor of DCNN, speaks with Harry Baldock, Editor of Total Telecom - the event's organiser - about what visitors can expect from this year's two-day show. DCNN: For our readers who may not be familiar with Submarine Networks EMEA, what can you tell them about the event? Harry: Submarine Networks EMEA is the largest annual subsea connectivity event, bringing together the over 1,000 senior leaders from across the industry for two days of networking and vibrant conference sessions. The event takes place at the Business Design Centre in London and attracts attendees from all over the world. Total Telecom has been hosting this event since 2018, during which time it’s gone from strength to strength, becoming a mainstay for the subsea community every year. DCNN: What are some of the biggest trends impacting subsea connectivity at present, and in what ways will these be reflected at the show? Harry: Personally, I think there are three big themes we’re seeing in the submarine cable space right now: security, geopolitics, and the recent boom in AI-powered data centre investment. Increasing security concerns, driven by the unstable global situation, are leading to tighter regulation and therefore more hurdles to be overcome when connecting cables to certain countries. This is leading to costly delays in planning and deployment – in some cases, sections of cable have already been built, but regulatory changes have left their owners unable to activate them. On the other hand, the booming data centre market is presenting many new opportunities for the subsea industry. All of these data centres will need global connectivity and their deployment is triggering a new wave of cable deployment, particularly in previously underserved areas. Other important topics include cable sustainability, maintenance, and recycling; cable deployment and repair ships; SMART cables (built with sensors to capture scientific data); subsea regulation; and training the next generation of professionals in this often-underappreciated industry. DCNN: How many exhibitors will be in attendance at this year's event, and what products or innovations will be showcased? Harry: There will be over 50 exhibitors at the show this year, showing off a wide variety of new projects and technologies. The core of the exhibitors, of course, are those showing cable system-related solutions – from landing station technology to the latest optical technologies. But there are many more players that play a role in a successful subsea cable project – for example, cable builders and operators, data centre operators, cable deployment experts, optical networking solutions providers, public sector officials, and national regulators. All of these will feature representation on the show floor at Submarine Networks EMEA. DCNN: The event will also include a jam-packed conference programme. What's in store for visitors this year, and what are expected to be among the highlights of these sessions? Harry: The telecoms and tech industries have become ever more interwoven in recent years, and this is clearly reflected in our conference agenda, which touches on everything from cable investment strategies to integrating sensing technologies. Our morning keynote sessions are always a major highlight; this year, our Day 1 keynote focuses on the privatisation of the submarine cable industry and the role of the hyperscalers, while Day 2’s will focus on the rapidly expanding data centre environment. On a personal level, as a journalist, I really enjoy the ‘News in Brief’ sessions – 10-minute updates on various cable projects around the world. They are always crammed with information. They also tend to include interesting anecdotes about overcoming challenges along the way, whether its decommissioning sea mines in the North Sea or having engineers canoe around the Norwegian fjords as part of the cable planning process! Lastly, a major goal for the event has always been to shed light on this niche industry as a career path and to help nurture the next generation of subsea professionals. Our Junior Top Dogs networking event, taking place on Day 2, is specifically designed to give students and other newcomers to the industry the opportunity to talk directly with industry veterans. You can check out our full agenda by clicking here. DCNN: Data centres are listed among the nine key themes that Submarine Networks EMEA will tackle. Could you expand on this notion and provide insight as to what visitors can expect with regards to this? Harry: As I’m sure your readers are aware, the data centre industry has been booming, with the hyperscalers pledging to invest billions of dollars in new data centre deployments in the coming years. Those same hyperscalers – like Meta, Google, and Microsoft – are also the key movers and shakers of the submarine cable industry, typically playing a leading role in the consortiums that build the submarine cables. The relationship between submarine cables and data centres is quite fundamental. More data centres being deployed globally will have major implications for the type and capacity of new cable systems deployed, and where these systems will interconnect with terrestrial networks. The Day 2 opening keynote focuses on this topic in detail, asking how the AI-driven data centre surge is impacting the subsea sector and what the two industries can learn from each other. DCNN: What are some of the biggest challenges in the subsea connectivity sector in 2025? Harry: As mentioned, cable security is a big challenge. We’ve seen lots of cable damage in key geopolitical hotspots in recent years – particularly the Red Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the waters around Taiwan – and, while accidental damage to cables happens every year, deliberate sabotage is suspected in a number of cases. Physically monitoring and defending such massive cables is a technical challenge of huge scope and financial cost, but one that the industry is under increasing pressure to solve. These security fears are, in turn, leaching into the regulatory landscape, which is at risk of becoming more intrusive and potentially obstructive to subsea projects. This is particularly the case in the US, where the Federal Communications Commission is currently reworking its submarine cable regulations for the first time since 2001! Just this month we have seen the UK government take steps in a similar direction, launching a subsea cable security enquiry this year and seeking to identify emerging threats in this space. As a result, submarine cable projects are likely to be more closely regulated, causing delays and additional expenses. In some cases, cable systems could be forced to circumvent some countries or bodies of water entirely. But the geopolitical uncertainty of the modern world is not all doom and gloom for the submarine cable industry. With national governments growing increasingly picky around how their international data is transported, opportunities to build new cables to meet these needs are beginning to arise. Greater submarine cable diversity means more choice for customers and reduces reliance on individual cables. DCNN: Is AI having a big impact on this sector, and if so, will this be a big theme throughout the event? Harry: I would describe AI’s effect on the sector as indirect but significant. As mentioned, AI is spurring a major investment in specialised data centres and seeing global data usage estimates increase massively. The submarine cable industry will have to adapt to this changing environment, though modern cables should be able to handle the predicted increase in data transport. Perhaps more interesting, the cable owners themselves are making increasing use of AI when planning and operating these systems, particularly regarding automation. This can deliver some huge cost-savings, enhance network monitoring, and support predictive maintenance. DCNN: What are the show's organisers most excited about heading into this year's exhibition? Harry: We’re thrilled to once again be at the heart of such a vibrant industry! We’re very lucky that the submarine cable industry is extremely collaborative by nature, and so great conversations are never far away. We’re looking forward to providing a forum for these discussions and helping the community tackle some of the biggest challenges in the sector today. DCNN: Is there anything else you'd like DCNN readers to know about? Harry: There is an oft-quoted figure in the industry that submarine cables carry over 95% of global internet traffic, but the vast majority of people do not even realise they exist. So, my message to readers would be: don’t forget about the submarine cable industry! It’s a huge, unseen part of our global digital fabric and becomes more diverse and broader in scope every year. Whether you’re dipping your toes into the submarine cable industry for the first time or you’re an industry veteran looking for a deep dive, Submarine Networks EMEA will put you at the heart of the industry. Submarine Networks EMEA will be taking place on 18–19 February at the Business Design Centre in London. If you’d like more information or want to get involved in Submarine Networks EMEA, please contact the event's Project Director, Laura O’Reilly, at laura.oreilly@totaltele.com.

Telxius enhances ultra-scalable global carrier ethernet service

Telxius, a global connectivity provider, has upgraded its Global Carrier Ethernet (GCE) service with flexible bandwidth options for businesses in the Americas and Europe. The service enables enterprises and service providers to maximise their investments with more bandwidth flexibility when connecting to key global hubs and cloud service providers. Telxius’ GCE service is supported by its global network spanning over 100,000km of submarine cables and terrestrial backhauls throughout the US, Latin America, and Europe, and is powered by Ciena’s advanced optical pluggables, instead of traditional transponders. It is a highly scalable and flexible service with bandwidth options ranging from 50Mbps to 100Gbps+, designed to meet the needs of demanding markets with ultra-low latency, high availability, and reliability. “At Telxius, we are constantly evolving our network with new and enhanced systems to better support our customers and accelerate digital transformation,” says Mónica Martínez, CMO at Telxius. “We offer enterprises and service providers with the flexible, seamless connectivity options they need to thrive in today’s bandwidth-hungry digital landscape, where user experiences have never been so important.” The solution is MEF 3.0 certified, supported by 14 high-capacity subsea cables: Firmina, Tikal (in progress), Mistral, Tannat, Junior, Dunant, Brusa, Marea, PCCS, SAm-1, EllaLink, Unisur, Est-Tet and Alpal-2, and provides connectivity to multiple points of presence (PoPs) globally. “Telxius continues to take strategic steps to promote the universal need for connectivity in its simplest form,” notes Fernando Capella, Regional Director of CALA South at Ciena. “With Ciena’s advanced optical technology, Telxius has the ability to reach beyond 100Gbps circuits across its existing submarine network, supporting the ever-increasing demands of global enterprises and service providers with ultra-low latency.” Telxius’ global network includes high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cables and terrestrial backhauls together spanning more than 100,000km, almost 100 PoPs in 17 countries, plus 27 data centres. On top of its Ethernet services, Telxius provides a wide range of additional capacity, IP, colocation, and security services for businesses to optimise their connectivity across the globe. For more from Telxius, click here.

R&M to support digitalisation of railway traffic

R&M, a Swiss developer and provider of high-end infrastructure solutions for data and communications networks, is supporting the digitalisation of the railways. R&M is committed to sustainable infrastructure development through advanced cabling solutions for rail transport. With the modernisation of communications networks on the railway lines and in trains, railway companies are starting a new era, and passengers will be able to take advantage of seamless high-speed mobile connections in the future. Fibre optic cables will be laid along the railway lines and new antenna sites installed for future railway radio systems for the real-time transmission of large volumes of data. These radio systems connect trains with the traffic control systems in the railway’s own data centres via state-of-the-art railway control systems and new digital signal boxes. The aim of digitalisation is to make rail traffic even safer and more efficient in the future, and to further automate it. R&M has developed the RailCon programme for this application area, giving railway operators complete end-to-end solutions for their cabling infrastructures from a single source. The product portfolio covers the technical levels from plug connectors and wiring to network distributors and cabinet solutions in both indoor and outdoor versions. R&M designs infrastructure solutions based on decades of experience with outdoor solutions for communication technology and in the construction of fibre optic networks. Among other things, the RailCon programme supports the European Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), an important foundation for the further digitalisation of rail transport in the coming decades. The product portfolio includes the connectors of the HEC family developed by R&M. The outdoor connectors withstand harsh conditions such as changes of temperature, vibrations, dust, moisture, sunshine and electromagnetic fields. For example, the HEC connectors connect the active equipment of communication network installations in underground cable ducts, in outdoor installations or FRMCS radio systems with the fibre optic network. R&M also offers various splice/patch closures, IP68 housings and railway-specific, shielded multi-fibre cables manufactured in-house for cabling in buildings and tunnels, as well as aerial and underground cabling. Other modules are the modular optical distribution frames ODF PRIME and FOXS, the Polaris and LUNAR box families, and the CONEXIO portfolio for the wiring of FRMCS mobile radio sites. In addition to the product portfolio, the RailCon programme also includes a whole range of services. Cable assemblies, splice closures, distributors and boxes, racks and cabinets can be planned and pre-terminated on a customer or site-specific basis in order to reduce the installation effort on site. R&M implements customer-specific adaptations and special solutions quickly and reliably in order to inspire customers with convincing results. Support is provided for logistics, installation work, support for initial installation on construction sites as well as specific laboratory tests and approvals. For more from R&M, click here.

New production line to offer advanced connectivity

Growing demand for 5G connectivity within the UK can now be addressed through Low Loss Corrugated (LISCA) cable assemblies, thanks to the launch of a new production line by Huber+Suhner and CL Electrical Controls. The development of the production line in Bristol reflects an expansion to the partnership originally agreed in 2020 and ensures mobile operators have greater accessibility to LISCA cable assemblies for projects across the country. “We are pleased to launch our brand-new production line for the UK market,” says Reto Germann, Senior Vice President Sales Communication for the Communication Segment, Huber+Suhner. “This investment demonstrates both companies’ commitment to supporting a rapidly growing telecommunication sector. With this development, CL Electrical Controls can provide operators with advanced network solutions to enhance networks countrywide. The LISCA cables assemblies, renowned for their exceptional RF performance, durability in harsh conditions, and full electrical testing up to 3.8 GHz, will now be produced in the UK by CL Electrical Controls. This development is set to streamline the supply chain for UK mobile operators, ensuring faster delivery and installation, alongside enhanced network infrastructure upgrades, to meet the growing demand for 5G connectivity. The solutions are designed to perform under the most challenging environmental conditions while ensuring long-term reliability. These assemblies are crucial components for future-proofing mobile networks as they adapt to the demands of 5G and beyond. With the new production line, operators will have greater opportunity to obtain and use LISCA cable assemblies within their projects. “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Huber+Suhner with this launch,” says Steve Thompson Director, Production and Operations, CL Electrical Controls. “The ongoing expansion of 5G in the UK demands means operators are now crying out for reliable, locally produced solutions. This new production line ensures that the country's increasing network requirements can be addressed efficiently.” For more from Huber+Suhner, click here.

Zayo introduces wavelength route between London and Paris

Zayo Europe, a leading telecom service and infrastructure provider, has introduced a new DWDM route connecting London to Paris, enhancing its diversity options between the two cities. This new route strengthens Zayo Europe’s already extensive network in both the UK and France, offering more destinations at either end of the service than other providers in the market. It will also provide a diverse alternative on Zayo Europe’s existing cable system, working alongside its other routes across the Channel. This new development also enables separate connections between other cities, such as Manchester to Frankfurt, with no overlap in networks. Zayo Europe expects around a 20% reduction in transit time or latency between points of presence (PoPs), like London and Paris. This route will improve network reliability and security for customers by removing the ‘single point of failure’ and providing reliable connections, lower latency and lower downtime risk. Zayo Europe’s new route is 400G ready, providing immediate scalability to meet customers’ bandwidth needs as they grow. In total, Zayo Europe now operates five subsea routes between the UK and continental Europe. This new CrossChannel route complements existing Circe South and Channel Tunnel routes between London and Paris, whilst Zeus and Circe North link London to Amsterdam. Michael Katz, VP for Product & Technology at Zayo Europe, says, “As the surge in adoption of cloud and AI technologies drives an increased demand on networks, the demand for reliable, low-latency connectivity has increased, while the tolerance for network outages has diminished. “Zayo Europe is committed to providing the best connectivity and reliability for our customers across the continent, and this new cross-Channel wavelength route marks a great improvement in the diversity we can offer between these two major hubs and beyond. This high-capacity, low-latency solution will significantly benefit those seeking a fast and secure connection between London and Paris, and will be crucial for those needing to build reliable and secure network solutions.” For more from Zayo Europe, click here.

R&M expands ready-to-install cabling systems

R&M, a developer and provider of high-end infrastructure solutions for data and communications networks, is expanding its range of terminated fibre optic cables. The VARIOline family now includes three plug-and-play solutions. The ready-to-assemble loose tube cabling system simplifies installation in buildings, data centres and outdoor areas as installers only have to feed the cables into shafts, ducts and racks and connect them in patch panel modules. The overall solution, consisting of ready-to-use cables and fitted fan-out legs, saves field-mounting, splicing and measuring on the construction site. Installation work can be carried out in a time and cost-saving manner with just a few specialists. The VARIOline overall solutions are used for backbone, trunk and campus cabling with either single or multimode fibres. VARIOline Easy is designed for protected environments, making it ideal for high-density packing in data centres and enterprise networks within commercial buildings and factories. This solution enables efficient space utilisation and easy management of fibre optic connections, providing a seamless and reliable network infrastructure for critical applications. VARIOline Classic provides a mechanically stable solution suitable for medium-density packing in both indoor and certain outdoor installations. It serves as a robust alternative to splicing, offering enhanced durability and ease of installation. This product line is ideal for backbone, trunk, and campus cabling, available with either single-mode or multi-mode fibres, making it versatile for various network setups. For the most demanding environments, VARIOline OP is available for outdoor environments. It withstands extreme mechanical and thermal stresses, making it suitable for industrial applications, Fibre to the Antenna (FTTA), events, tunnels, and smart cities. VARIOline OP can endure a tensile strength of up to 999 N, is waterproof with IP67 protection, and remains temperature stable from -25°C to +70°C. This product line ensures reliable performance even in the harshest conditions, providing robust and long-lasting connectivity. The VARIOline products are compatible with all R&M fibre optic platforms. R&M offers terminations to suit customer requirements with two to 144 fibres, commercially available connector types and custom lengths. The maximum total length is 600 metres. Depending on the use and number of fibres, the integrated fibre distributors with tube fittings have plastic or aluminium housings. R&M supplies the factory-tested VARIOline cables ready for assembly on recyclable cardboard drums. VARIOline cables are manufactured at all R&M sites and are therefore available worldwide at short notice. For more from R&M, click here.

EXA announces new open cable landing station in Genoa

EXA Infrastructure, a leading digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe to North America, has announced the expansion of its existing network facility in Genoa to a fully open Cable Landing Station. This investment is triggered to serve the future requirements of new subsea cables landing in the Italian hub. Recognising Genoa’s importance in the subsea ecosystem, EXA Infrastructure will also invest in a new metro network ring that will simplify access to other cable systems. Once complete, the new open CLS in Genoa will have access to five transmission routes into other parts of Europe, thereby providing additional redundancy and reliability for customers. Open CLS serve as standardised, neutral interconnection points where service providers can link their networks to submarine cables. This setup promotes competition among providers, stimulates innovation, and broadens connectivity options for users. Steve Roberts, SVP Network Investments and Products at EXA Infrastructure, comments, “With the increasing need for Internet resilience and greater data transmission capacity, there has been a move towards open-access models for CLSs to improve service quality, lower costs, and boost network resilience. The importance of having diverse connectivity options into Europe via Genoa from a single, pan-European supplier with strong subsea and landing proven experience - versus multi-sourcing from local and regional providers - is really a game-changer compared to what was available in the region”. EXA Infrastructure continues to build and operate the mission critical digital infrastructure that enables growth for its customers. The company currently operates 18 Cable Landing Stations across Europe and North America, positioning it as one of the leading operators in the region. For more from EXA Infrastructure, click here.

New initiative to reduce fibre optic cable packaging waste

Reaffirming the company’s commitment to a sustainable future and reducing resource consumption, Huber+Suhner is to use 100% recyclable, FSC-certified paper packaging for its entire range of indoor fibre optic cable assemblies. This project is a contribution to the company's commitment to environmental responsibility through a 50% reduction in packaging emissions for indoor fibre optic cable assemblies (calculated according to ISO 14040, based on supplier data). The company claims that it will result in the number of single-use plastic bags being utilised will fall by 2.2 million per year. “This initiative represents one small step in our company-wide journey to drive sustainability in our operations and products,” says Huber+Suhner's Head of Global Sustainability, Lana Ollier. “In an industry where the use of single-use plastic packaging remains commonplace, our initiative serves to highlight that Huber+Suhner not only understands our corporate responsibility, but our customers’ growing demand for more sustainable products.” The indoor fibre optic cable assemblies will be packaged in 100% recyclable, FSC-certified paper that includes the bags, cable ties and box tape. For customers, the paper packaging will be easier and faster to open, saving crucial time during installation. As the paper covers and cable ties weigh less than the plastic previously used, less resources are consumed, and costs relating to transport and disposal will also be reduced. The new packaging is also 100% dust-free, mitigating the risk of potential contamination. This is important in data centres where indoor fibre optic cable assemblies are often deployed. If the packaging of these solutions generates dust, it can affect key components of the installation process as well as negatively affect operational performance. “Our new environmentally friendly packaging has been designed with our customers in mind,” said Huber+Suhner's Head of Product Management, Vanesa Alias. “Switching to paper packaging reduces overall installation time as well as our customers’ waste volume and operational expenditure. This is one step of many sustainable initiatives in the pipeline, and we are excited to share our sustainability plans with our customers in due course.” HUBER+SUHNER will also see additional product lines, including indoor fibre optic cable systems and harsh environment fibre optic cable assemblies, switch to sustainable packaging over the coming months. For more from Huber+Suhner, click here.

R&M and US Conec to produce and deploy next-generation connectors

Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) and US Conec have announced the execution of a definitive license agreement that enables US Conec to produce and supply harsh environment connectors fully interoperable with R&M’s HEC-QR connector format. The HEC-QR connector from R&M and the HEC-DC connector from US Conec encompass a next-generation family of connectors for harsh environments, supporting single fibre (SC), duplex (LC) and multi-fibre (MT) variants. The novel, 19mm circular housing format enables simple insertion and extraction in dense cabling environments via actuation by the strain relief boot. The IP 68 rated connector embodiment is compliant with the requirements of GR-3120 for single fibre applications and GR-3152 for multi-fibre applications. The robust connector solution is ideal for applications requiring rugged optical connectivity, such as fibre to the home, industrial, broadcast and transportation. R&M CTO, Robert Merki comments, “The HEC-QR connector family offers the perfect combination of easy handling and robust performance. Together with US Conec, we will be able to offer solutions for harsh environment applications around the globe and set a new standard for pre-connectorised outdoor connectivity.” Mike Hughes, VP Product Management at US Conec, comments, “We are excited to build on our long-standing partnership with R&M by collaborating on the next generation of harsh environment connectivity with the introduction of HEC-DC solutions with DirectConect technology. R&M delivers proven, reliable Swiss-precision craftsmanship for fibre optic connector technologies. The simple push on insertion and quick release extraction mechanism for the new platform enables state-of-the-art, high-density optical connector functionality for harsh environment applications.”

EXA Infrastructure announces sixth transatlantic subsea cable route

EXA Infrastructure has announced its sixth transatlantic subsea cable route with the addition of Amitié. This network expansion marks a significant milestone in solidifying its commitment to advancing transatlantic connectivity and routing diversity for its customers.    This news follows the October 2023 announcements of EXA adding both Havfrue and Dunant subsea cables to its network, connecting to EXA’s extensive European backbone. The six transatlantic routes include the more established EXA North, South and Express subsea cables.  "We are proud to unveil our latest fully diversified transatlantic subsea cable route with the addition of Amitié," says Steve Roberts, Vice President Network Investments at EXA Infrastructure. "Amitié not only strengthens our network, but also serves as a testament to our steadfast dedication to investing in cutting-edge infrastructure. This investment further proves our unwavering commitment to supporting the exponential growth of our customers by providing unparalleled diversity and connectivity combinations in the industry." Amitié connects the strategic hubs of One Summer Street Boston in the US, Slough in the UK and Bordeaux in France, where onward connectivity can be provided to anywhere on the EXA’s owned network. In order to meet the rising data traffic in and out of Europe, EXA’s mission remains focused on extending and enhancing its backbone to provide the European continent with more transatlantic route combinations than any other provider. The Amitié cable lands in EXA’s cable station in Lynn, Massachusetts and extends for 6,783km connecting the US to Le Porge in France and Bude in the UK.