FEATURE is critical to efficient electrical power usage in SDM cables, even with 18 kV power feed now available. This will continue to support higher capacity at lower cost-per-bit. Interest in C+L Band Technology - We expect to see strong bid interest in C+L band technology in 2022, with selection of C+L band not later than 2023, as the next step beyond 24 fiber pair C-band only systems. The first – and only – C+L band system to date is the PLCN cable that terminates in Hong Kong, miring it in geopolitical turmoil and security concerns. Nevertheless, the technology itself is solid, providing a means to take another step in the direction of higher capacity and lower cost-per-bit. Low and stable fiber attenuation across the C- and L-bands, improvements to L-band erbium-doped fiber, and thinner fiber coatings (e.g., 200 mm) will enable cables to reach or exceed 1 Pb/s capacity. Exploration of ULL Multi-Core Fiber - We also expect to see continued exploration of ULL multi-core fiber (MCF) in 2022, in preparation for the multi-Pb/s cables required to support future user experiences known as the metaverse, augmented reality, and ambient computing. MCF enables two or four cores in one strand of glass, turning a 24-fiber pair cable design into a 48- or 96-fiber pair cable. While MCF seems like an obvious way to increase capacity, its adoption will also add cost and complexity. Significant development is needed in all aspects of a submarine cable system to facilitate the adoption of this future technology, and forward-thinking companies may be wise to study it now.
ALEX VAXMONSKY DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR GLOBAL SERVICE PROVIDERS EQUINIX As the Director of Global Networks at Equinix, Alex Vaxmonsky is uniquely positioned to provide insight into datacenters and the ecosystems of service providers, web content and applications. He has significant in driving strategic partnerships and managing infrastructure installations for subsea and satellite deployments at Equinix. With a deep background in both wireless and wireline environments, Alex’s team is focused on strategies that support all varieties of networking connectivity to accelerate the monetization of services at the edge.
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Big Tech Companies Will Continue to Invest in Subsea Network Infrastructure, Particularly In Developing Markets - 2021 was one of the biggest years on record for subsea cable investments. As this investment boom continues in 2022, it will look different from the one we experienced several decades back during the dot-com era. Major content and application providers like Google and Meta will build on their advantages by investing in the infrastructure through which users access their content and applications. In particular, they’ll look to establish themselves in developing markets that feature huge user bases but have received little infrastructure investment before now. For example, Meta will use subsea cable investments to gain a foothold in markets like Indonesia, which is already the fourth-largest user base for Facebook (World Population Review, “Facebook Users by Country 2021”). By investing in digital infrastructure in places where governments and local telecoms may not have the resources to do so, Meta and other big tech companies will establish their presence in those markets for years to come. In most cases, they’ll start with subsea cables and grow from there. The First Retail Satellite Communications Network Will Launch, But Challenges Will Remain - Satellite communications providers like SpaceX, OneWeb and Telesat are all working to prove the private space industry is more than just hype. The transport cost of launching a satellite—defined by the SWaP formula, which considers size, weight and power—has fallen quickly over the past few years. However, companies must also optimize the terminal cost of receiving signals back on Earth if they want to reach their intended market. A SpaceX antenna currently costs about $500; since satellite internet is primarily aimed at developing economies, this number needs to come down to about $300 before it really makes sense financially. SpaceX will launch a production retail communications satellite service by the end of 2022, but the challenges they’ll face around terminal costs and government regulations will ultimately lead them to decide their time and resources are better spent elsewhere. They will revert to a private network provider within the next three years, opening the door for OneWeb to emerge as the true winner in the retail communications space race. The First Private Hybrid (RF/Optical) Communications Satellite Will Launch, Forcing Us to Rethink the Edge - In recent years, “edge” has become one of the most overused (and meaningless) words in enterprise networking. Thanks to new developments in space communications—such as the launch of NASA’s Laser Communi-
