Global Caribbean Network (GCN) has upgraded its existing subsea cable network using the Ekinops360 WDM platform with FlexRate™ technology.
GCN operates a cable system in the Guadeloupe region of the Caribbean consisting of critical routes unserved by other cables. With service areas separated by long spans that have challenging optical requirements, GCN needed a solution that could support services from 10 Gbps to 100 Gbps on extended links over 350 km.
Using the 400FRS04-SF module, reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs), and low noise amplifiers from Ekinops, GCN is now able to deliver the bandwidth needed for the local service providers throughout the region to offer high-bandwidth internet services to the local populations.
GCN built its original cable system as part of a public service delegation contract with the regional council of Guadeloupe. The contract requires control of the cable be returned to the regional government after a fixed period of time. As a pre-requisite, GCN needed to modernize the infrastructure with a future-proof network capable of supporting higher capacities.
“We were very impressed with Ekinops’s ability to not just meet our requirements but also their willingness to work with us in finding the best solution,” commented Axel Adenet, Chief Operations Officer at GCN. “We made it our mission to upgrade the network with cutting-edge equipment and technology, as we wanted to ensure that the cable system may continue in operation for many years and Ekinops proved to be the best partner for doing that. Being able to use a French technology company has also been a key factor in our choice since national sovereignty stakes are high for these strategic data flows.”
Recognizing Ekinops’s ability to deliver the solution, services, and support it needed within a tight schedule, GCN selected the Ekinops360 even after comparing it to purpose-built submarine systems.
“The platform flexibility of the Ekinops360 makes it highly efficient for a wide range of applications, including subsea deployment,” said Frank Dedobbeleer, Chief Revenue Officer, EMEA & APAC at Ekinops. “Ekinops’s origins are actually in the submarine world, so we are able to leverage our deep expertise in this area to address the needs of customers like GCN.”
