INDUSTRY NEWS
ESA announces Europe’s first deep-space optical communication link
Nokia establishes subsea cable system across Europe and North Africa
The European Space Agency (ESA) has marked a historic milestone by establishing its first optical communication link with a spacecraft in deep space. The link was made with NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment aboard its Psyche mission, currently at a distance of 1.8 astronomical units, around 265 million km. It is the first of four planned links occurring this summer. The achievement marks yet another milestone in the long history of cross-support between space agencies, said ESA, demonstrating the potential for interoperability between the organisation
Nokia has announced that it will power a new subsea fibre-optic network will connect the Atlantic coast, Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, creating a new high- capacity digital corridor in the region, driving connectivity, innovation, and economic growth. The Medusa Submarine Cable System, a project owned by AFR-IX Telecom, is a significant step toward closing the digital divide between Europe and North Africa, connecting countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Egypt with high-capacity fibre-optic links.
and NASA in the realm of optical communications, something previously only achieved with radiofrequency systems. “The first successful demonstration of deep- space optical communication with a European ground segment marks truly a leap step towards bringing terrestrial internet like high- speed connectivity to our deep-space spacecraft. This joint achievement together
Designed as an open- access system, Medusa provides telecom providers across the region access to advanced connectivity services, supporting the rollout of 5G, the growth of cloud infrastructure, and the increasing bandwidth demands of AI and future technologies. Leveraging Nokia’s 1830 GX Series platform and advanced ICE7 coherent optics, capable of transmitting tens of terabits per second per fibre pair, the Medusa Submarine Cable System is equipped to deliver high-capacity, low-latency connectivity with optimal cost and power efficiency per transmitted bit.
with our colleagues and partners in industry and
academia, ESA’s Directorate of Technology and NASA/JPL underlines the importance of international cooperation”,
says Rolf Densing, ESA’s Director of Operations.
Spirent and Telescent partner to deliver enhanced test lab automation
EXA Infrastructure announces 1,200km fibre route from London to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Brussels
A new partnership between Spirent Communications and Telescent is set to provide a boost for companies seeking to optimise AI/ML resource connectivity and automate test infrastructure. AI and machine learning workloads demand optimal connectivity through optical interconnections to maximise resource utilisation and investment returns. The collaboration addresses these challenges by bringing together Telescent’s innovative optical circuit switch (OCS) and automated fibre patch-panels solutions with Spirent’s Velocity test lab automation portfolio. Telescent’s robotic fibre optic cross-connect systems enable automated and remote provisioning of fibre connections, dramatically reducing the need for manual patch panel operations and minimising human error. “Our partnership with
Telescent represents another great example of how Spirent is bringing innovation to automated test solutions to help companies ensure reliability, security, and performance in their operational networks,” said Anil Kollipara, VP of Product Management at Spirent. “Furthermore, by integrating Telescent’s advanced optical switching technology with the proven test automation capabilities of our Velocity portfolio, we’re delivering a solution that will transform how organizations approach lab automation and AI/ML resource optimization. When integrated with the Velocity Test Automation
EXA Infrastructure has announced the deployment of a new fibre route connecting London to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Brussels. The project aims to enhance Europe’s digital infrastructure with two scalable cable landing stations, modern high-fibre- count cables, and upgrades to existing In-Line Amplifier (ILA) facilities across the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Integral to the project is a new consortium submarine cable and EXA Infrastructure is the sole telecom consortium member. It is responsible for providing landing party and backhaul services. EXA Infrastructure claims to be the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform throughout Europe. The new 1,200 km route includes 1,085 km of new low-
loss G.652D terrestrial fibre for end-to-end connectivity and a 115 km subsea build from Margate, UK to Ostend, Belgium, utilizing ultra-low- loss G.654C cable. The two new landing stations – EXA’s 21st and 22nd globally – further strengthen its extensive network spanning the U.S. East Coast, Western Europe, and the Mediterranean. Steve Roberts, SVP Strategic Network Investments and Product Management at EXA Infrastructure, said: “This is a real milestone for robust connectivity options in Europe and includes the first new subsea cable on this complex corridor – the North Sea – in 25 years. This new route complements our investment in the Channel Tunnel, delivering scalable, modern and optimized fibre paths between key FLAP hubs.”
Portfolio, the solution enhances operational efficiency through
automation for enterprise network test labs, AI/ML laboratories, data centres, and equipment manufacturer validation.
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| ISSUE 42 | Q3 2025
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