The consortium operating the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE system and Alcatel-Lucent have finalised and completed the fourth upgrade to the latest undersea cable system.
According to the group, the latest upgrade has now doubled the system capacity. Operating at 40 Gbps and with full in-system protection, the system claims to have one of the lowest latency routes from Africa to Europe with connectivity between Europe, West Coast of Africa and Southern Africa with landings in South Africa, Angola, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Spain and Portugal.
The SAT-3/WASC cable system was upgraded from 420 Gbps to 920 Gbps in the northern segments, north of Ghana, and from 340 Gbps to 800 Gbps in the southern segments. The fourth upgrade enables a sevenfold increase in SAT-3/WASC’s original design capacity. SAFE also provides the shortest route and therefore lowest latency between Southern Africa and Asia with connectivity via South Africa, Mauritius, Reunion, India and Malaysia.
Johan Meyer, Management Committee Chairman of SAT-3/WASC/SAFE consortium said: “SAT-3/WASC/SAFE has a proven track record backed by 12 years of operational experience and sound financial stability, allowing for further cable upgrades and optimum network performance, both regionally and globally. The additional capacity available with the fourth upgrade will contribute significantly in meeting the ongoing demand in the markets served by SAT3/WASC/SAFE.”
