Interview
It’s been a busy few months for the Islalink group with the completion of the IONIAN cable going down earlier this yr. Esther Garcès, CEO of Islalink will probably be talking in regards to the launch at Submarine Networks EMEA 2023 later this month. Complete Telecom caught up with Esther this week to seek out out extra in regards to the venture.
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 clients flowing their visitors by our system.
It has been an exquisite journey, began with the preliminary inception of the venture and the design of the route, adopted by fastidiously deciding on our enterprise associates after which lastly delivering the venture. Just a few weeks previous to RFS, we have been comfortable to witness the landings of the cable with our group, companions and associates: first in Crotone (Italy) after which in Preveza (Greece). Following that, now we have 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.
Just a few weeks in the past (25th April), we formally inaugurated the system in Athens with our enterprise companions, clients and authorities.
Are you able to inform us extra in regards to 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 resembling fishing and anchoring. The route of the cable has been decided in such means in order that it’s completely numerous from current transmission methods within the Adriatic and within the Mediterranean Sea.
On high of that, now we have 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 group has a profitable and long-standing monitor file within the growth and development of submarine methods. This was complemented by collaboration with trusted native companions working in probably the most specialised areas of subcontracting, resembling allowing, environmental evaluation and civil engineering.
With this, now we have ensured a easy transition course of from desktop research and evaluation of the venture, as much as its completion.
Why did you select this route and touchdown stations for the venture?
That is probably the most important choice to be made when launching a brand new submarine cable venture. 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 relies on the next ideas:
- Industrial potential – Italy-Greece is usually an underserved route. Now, there are numerous investments from OTTs, hyperscalers and information centre suppliers being introduced in Greece.
- Range from current routes – IONIAN is completely numerous from current methods.
- Safety and reliability – IONIAN is usually laid by deep waters, making the entire system sturdy.
What do the following 12 months seem like for Islalink?
We prefer to maintain 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 handle our buyer’s wants and higher attain the market. We are also exploring the chance 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 neighborhood of execs from the submarine sector. We’re wanting ahead to discussing IONIAN with and establish future initiatives.
Esther will probably 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.
