TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it has signed a contract to provide a 40 Gbps dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) capacity upgrade to an existing transatlantic submarine cable network. The company expects to complete the two phase upgrade to the TAT-14 Cable Network by the fourth quarter of 2012, enabling the network’s maximum capacity to be increased sevenfold.
The TAT-14 Cable Network, owned by a consortium of major telecommunications carriers, comprises over 15,000 km of fiber-optic cable linking seven landing stations in the North Atlantic region, and was originally supplied in 2001 with a 10 Gbps DWDM system. In order to satisfy the need for increased capacity, Mitsubishi Electric proposed to apply its latest high-speed fiber-optic technologies to upgrade this system with its 40 Gbps DWDM technology.
“We are honored that the TAT-14 Cable Network purchasing consortium has selected us as a supplier for their capacity upgrade,” said Muneo Abe, general manager of Mitsubishi Electric’s Telecommunication Systems Department. “Upgrading a 10 Gbps transatlantic cable to 40 Gbps is unprecedented, and this upgrade marks a significant milestone for Mitsubishi Electric. We have completely verified our 40 Gbps technology from field trials conducted over a transatlantic segment. Our 40 Gbps technologies will open up a new and sustainable 40G era for the TAT-14 Cable Network.”
Background of Mitsubishi Electric’s Submarine Cable Systems
Mitsubishi Electric has maintained its leading position in submarine cable system technology ever since it supplied the world’s first 5 Gbps optical amplified repeater for a transpacific cable in 1994. In 1999, Mitsubishi Electric supplied the world’s first 10 Gbps transmission technology, comprising 10 Gbps optical amplified repeaters and submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE), for installation in transoceanic cables. To complete these projects, the company raised its production capacity to 100 repeaters per month, which was, at the time, one of the largest repeater production capabilities in the world.
Since 2004, Mitsubishi Electric has received orders for upgrades of existing systems as a prime contractor, and has kept expanding its capabilities in this role. Recent examples include the 2006 and 2007 upgrades of an East Asian regional cable, which consisted of an order for more than 500 transponders, the 2008 transatlantic cable upgrades for fourth-generation Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE) systems and another East Asian regional cable upgrade from 2009 to 2011.
About the TAT-14 Cable Network Upgrade Purchasing Consortium
The seven purchasing consortium members are Abovenet Communications, Inc., AT&T Corp., Deutsche Telekom AG., France Télécom S.A., KPN B.V., TeliaSonera AB (publ)., and Verizon.
About Mitsubishi Electric
With 90 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products to both corporate clients and general consumers all over the world, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation and building equipment. The company recorded consolidated group sales of 3,645.3 billion yen (US$ 43.9 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. For more information visit http://www.MitsubishiElectric.com
*At an exchange rate of 83 yen to the US dollar, the rate given by the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2011