Digital inclusivity leads to better economic well-being, education, and disaster resilience. In line with this vision, Telecom Fiji has committed to bring high-speed connectivity and digital opportunity to the Northern Division of Fiji through a new backbone fibre network powered by Ciena’s 5184 coherent routing solution. This marks a major step in connecting homes, schools, and businesses in remote communities that used to be left behind.
Previously, Northern Fiji depended on weather-vulnerable microwave links, which limited reliable access for consumers and businesses alike. Telecom Fiji has recently launched an ambitious 5-year fibre investment plan, focused on building a highly resilient and scalable national backbone network. A key component of this plan is the Savusavu to Labasa Fibre Project, which extends from the Savusavu submarine cable landing station through key exchanges in Savusavu, Seaqaqa, and Labasa. This fibre link creates a high-capacity, reliable data corridor that improves network performance and supports sustained economic and social growth across the region.
Teaming up with Ciena
For this fibre project, Telecom Fiji deployed Ciena’s 5184 routers, boosting the delivery speeds of high-speed data services of up to 100GbE. Designed to handle IP transport traffic securely and reliably, while supporting advanced features that improve network efficiency, Ciena’s 5184 routers are temperature-hardened and can be installed in street cabinets, closer to local communities.
“Our goal was to connect underserved regions throughout the North, and the Savusavu to Labasa Fibre Project is an important step towards doing that,” said Mesake Tuinabua, Chief Technology Officer, Telecom Fiji. “Next, we are focusing on extending the network so even more businesses and communities can benefit.”
To future-proof, Telecom Fiji also plans to integrate Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Nano (WL5n) pluggables into the network. WL5n’s compact, pluggable form factor simplifies network architecture by integrating coherent technology directly into routers, delivering faster transmission speeds, in addition to cost, space, and power efficiencies. These infrastructure upgrades scale to support Telecom Fiji’s network’s growth and need to provide a versatile solution for a range of applications, including Data Center Interconnect (DCI) and metro-regional networks.
“This network upgrade is a great example of our shared commitment with Telecom Fiji to close the digital divide and connect more communities,” said Phil Rolle, Regional Managing Director, Subsea, Asia Pacific, Japan and India, Ciena. “By deploying our adaptive and scalable technology, we’re helping to build a future-ready network that will bring reliable, high-speed connectivity to those who need it most.”
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