Interview
It’s been a busy few months for the Islalink workforce with the completion of the IONIAN cable going down earlier this 12 months. Esther Garcès, CEO of Islalink can be talking concerning the launch at Submarine Networks EMEA 2023 later this month. Complete Telecom caught up with Esther this week to search out out extra concerning the undertaking.
The IONIAN cable has been in operation since March 2023; how did the launch go?
Certainly, IONIAN reached RFS (‘prepared for service’) on the finish of March 2023. We have already got prospects flowing their visitors by means of our system.
It has been a beautiful journey, began with the preliminary inception of the undertaking and the design of the route, adopted by fastidiously choosing our enterprise associates after which lastly delivering the undertaking. A number of weeks previous to RFS, we have been completely satisfied to witness the landings of the cable with our workforce, companions and pals: first in Crotone (Italy) after which in Preveza (Greece). Following that, we’ve got built-in the submarine system with the terrestrial backbones to have a single finish to finish system connecting the POP’s of Milan, Rome, Athens and Thessaloniki. We’re proud to say that IONIAN is probably the most superior, state-of-the-art transmission system between Italy and Greece.
A number of weeks in the past (25th April), we formally inaugurated the system in Athens with our enterprise companions, prospects and authorities.
Are you able to inform us extra concerning the cable?
This new unrepeated submarine cable is a 330Km single stretch and consists of 24 fiber pairs. The cable is usually laid (75%) on the seabed (deep waters – greater than 1.000 meters of depth) to keep away from man-made hazards reminiscent of fishing and anchoring. The route of the cable has been decided in such method in order that it’s completely various from current transmission programs within the Adriatic and within the Mediterranean Sea.
On high of that, we’ve got in place redundant terrestrial routes connecting Milan, Rome, Athens, and Thessaloniki.
What have been your key learnings and takeaways from the deployment course of?
Our in-house engineering workforce has a profitable and long-standing monitor file within the growth and development of submarine programs. This was complemented by collaboration with trusted native companions working in probably the most specialised areas of subcontracting, reminiscent of allowing, environmental evaluation and civil engineering.
With this, we’ve got ensured a clean transition course of from desktop examine and evaluation of the undertaking, as much as its completion.
Why did you select this route and touchdown stations for the undertaking?
That is probably the most important choice to be made when launching a brand new submarine cable undertaking. Making this choice is essential to the success of a brand new system, as these parameters can’t be modified sooner or later. Our choice is predicated on the next rules:
- Industrial potential – Italy-Greece is often an underserved route. Now, there are various investments from OTTs, hyperscalers and information centre suppliers being introduced in Greece.
- Variety from current routes – IONIAN is completely various from current programs.
- Safety and reliability – IONIAN is usually laid by means of deep waters, making the entire system sturdy.
What do the following 12 months appear to be for Islalink?
We wish to hold ourselves busy, so sure, we’re undoubtedly on the outlook for extra investments. Clearly, we additionally need to additional develop IONIAN as a platform for development and we’re working to allow new PoPs in Greece and in Italy to deal with our buyer’s wants and higher attain the market. We are also exploring the likelihood to additional prolong IONIAN to neighbouring nations.
What are you wanting ahead to at Submarine Networks EMEA 2023?
Submarine Networks EMEA is the main annual subsea connectivity occasion within the area. We’ve been collaborating on this occasion because it began, and have seen the way it has managed to draw the group of execs from the submarine sector. We’re wanting ahead to discussing IONIAN with and determine future tasks.
Esther can be presenting on the IONIAN cable at Submarine Networks EMEA 2023 on thirty first Could. To affix Esther and 800 senior choice makers from the worldwide submarine cable market, head to the occasion web site and ebook your ticket.
