TIME dotCom Berhad deployed new coherent optical technology from Ciena across the FASTER submarine cable system, enabling 1 Tbps data transmission on a single carrier wavelength across the transpacific route linking Japan and the United States. The upgrade boosts capacity on the approximately 9,000 km (about 5,600 miles) cable while maintaining the same space and power envelope at existing facilities.
The deployment uses Ciena’s latest coherent optical platform, which TIME said allows the operator to scale bandwidth without major infrastructure changes. The FASTER cable, one of the key high-capacity routes between Asia and North America, plays a central role in supporting rising bandwidth demand from cloud platforms, digital services, and AI workloads across the Pacific.
TIME said the upgrade improves operational efficiency by expanding capacity within the existing infrastructure footprint. The technology builds on Ciena’s coherent optical roadmap that includes single-carrier transmission capable of scaling toward 1.6 Tbps wavelengths, driven by new silicon designs aimed at higher spectral efficiency and lower power consumption for subsea networks.
- TIME dotCom deployed Ciena coherent optical technology on the FASTER transpacific submarine cable.
- The upgrade enables 1 Tbps transmission on a single-carrier wavelength.
- The FASTER system spans about 9,000 km (5,600 miles) between Japan and the United States.
- The deployment increases route capacity while maintaining the same space and power envelope.
- The technology is part of Ciena’s roadmap toward 1.6 Tbps single-carrier coherent optics.
- The upgrade supports growing AI, cloud, and hyperscale traffic across the Asia–Pacific corridor.
“Ciena’s best-in-class coherent optical capabilities enables Time to scale data transmission to 1 Tbps across a single-carrier wavelength on the FASTER cable system, with minimal operational impact to facilities being used,” said Ang Thing Jiun, NetCo Chief Executive Officer at TIME.
🌐 Analysis: Transpacific subsea routes continue to see rapid upgrades as hyperscale cloud providers and AI infrastructure operators drive unprecedented intercontinental traffic growth. Ciena’s coherent optical roadmap, including its WaveLogic platform supporting higher spectral efficiencies and Tbps-class wavelengths, has become a key upgrade path for existing submarine systems where operators seek to extend capacity without laying new cables.
🌐 We’re tracking the latest developments in subsea cable infrastructure, policy, and deployments. Follow our ongoing coverage at: https://convergedigest.com/category/subsea/