TIME dotCom Berhad has successfully upgraded its trans-Pacific network by deploying advanced coherent optical technology from Ciena, achieving data transmission speeds of up to 1 Tb/s (terabit per second) across the FASTER submarine cable system.
The roughly 9,000-kilometer FASTER cable, a critical high-capacity link connecting Japan to the United States, serves as a vital artery for international data traffic between the Asia-Pacific region and North America. The enhancement positions TIME dotCom as a key gateway supporting cloud providers, enterprises, and global carriers amid surging demand driven by AI, cloud computing, and digital services.
Global bandwidth consumption has more than tripled from 2020 to 2024, reaching approximately 6.4 petabits per second last year, underscoring the need for scalable infrastructure.
“The FASTER cable system is a vital contributor to transpacific connectivity,” said Ang Thing Jiun, NetCo Chief Executive Officer at TIME dotCom. “We are working with Ciena to efficiently scale our network to address surging bandwidth demands. Ciena’s best-in-class coherent optical capabilities enable us to scale data transmission to 1 Tb/s across a single-carrier wavelength on the FASTER cable system, with minimal operational impact to facilities.”
ALSO READ: GHANA LEADS AFRICA IN DIGITAL GROWTH FOLLOWING E-LEVY REPEAL
The upgrade leverages Ciena’s single-carrier, 1.6Tb/s-capable coherent optical solution, enabling TIME to significantly increase capacity while preserving existing space and power footprints in its facilities. This approach enhances operational efficiency and avoids extensive physical modifications.
“Time and Ciena have teamed up to improve connectivity across the transpacific corridor, upgrading its existing submarine network to support the new capacity needs of an AI era,” said Phil Rolle, Regional Managing Director, Subsea, Asia Pacific and Japan at Ciena. “Supported by Ciena’s extensive experience in subsea cable deployments, Time has successfully laid the foundation for the next wave of AI and cloud computing technologies, all while maintaining current operational practices.”
