Nokia upgrade enables EXA to expand global fiber capacity by 15%

Telecommunications infrastructure continues to reshape itself around artificial intelligence’s explosive data demands. EXA Infrastructure’s significant optical network upgrade with Nokia technology represents a critical evolution in the global fiber backbone that powers AI development. This partnership highlights how infrastructure providers are retooling to address the dual challenges of meeting unprecedented bandwidth requirements while simultaneously improving energy efficiency – a balancing act that will determine which networks can effectively support the AI economy.

The big picture: EXA Infrastructure is boosting its global optical network capacity by 15% through Nokia’s advanced 1.2 Tbps per-channel upgrade, representing a significant technological leap from systems that maxed out at 400 Gbps just a few years ago.

• The upgrade employs Nokia’s latest Integrated Coherent Engine 7 (ICE7) technology alongside the 1830 Global Express platform, following successful trials across Europe.
• The implementation promises to slash both energy consumption and cost per bit by as much as 50%, addressing critical sustainability concerns in high-performance computing infrastructure.

Why this matters: Network infrastructure faces mounting pressure as AI development drives unprecedented bandwidth demands while simultaneously requiring improvements in power efficiency.

• Power requirements have emerged as a potential limiting factor for data center growth, making energy efficiency improvements essential for sustainable AI infrastructure expansion.
• The upgrade supports mission-critical networks across government, enterprise, hyperscale infrastructure, and ultra-low latency connections for data centers.

Behind the numbers: EXA’s substantial fiber network spans 155,000 kilometers across 37 countries, including six transatlantic cables and the lowest-latency link between Europe and North America.

• The London-based firm, formed in 2021 when investment firm I Squared Capital acquired GTT Communications’ network assets, serves as a bellwether for infrastructure adaptation to AI demands.
• The ICE7 “coherent engine” functions as the brain behind modern optical networks, managing how light signals are modulated, transmitted, and decoded across fiber cables.

What they’re saying: Industry leaders emphasize the critical importance of both capacity and efficiency in meeting AI’s infrastructure needs.

• “Nokia’s 1830 GX solution with ICE7 coherent optics ensures a smooth transition from our existing ICE6-based infrastructure,” noted Ciaran Delaney, chief operating officer at EXA Infrastructure.
• James Watt, Nokia’s senior vice president for optical networks, highlighted that “driving down power consumption per bit is not just important from a sustainability point of view, but is also essential if providers are to meet spiraling connectivity needs.”