Pan-African undersea cable operator Seacom will utilise infrastructure, including GeoMesh submarine solutions and the converged packet optical platform, from its partner and network provider Ciena to extend services in Africa.

According to an announcement released today the partnership will deliver new network solutions 100G upgrade to service providers on the continent, as well as into main European points of presence through key submarine links.

Ciena's infrastructure will provide Seacom with a high capacity backbone to expand, optimise and seamlessly link its submarine and terrestrial networks.

This will ensure that enterprise customers and ISPs with services and content, with the intention to support scalable connectivity to expand the internet, facilitate data services for broadband and enable access to cloud-based web-scale applications.

"Africa is experiencing massive growth and demand for network services. With Ciena's technology supporting our infrastructure evolution we can ensure cost-effective data connectivity to end-customers across the continent and internationally ensuring that Africa is ready for the next generation of applications and high-bandwidth broadband services," said Seacom Chief Technology Officer Claes Segelberg.

"For competitive providers like Seacom increasing network capacity efficiently and economically is critical. With this expansion and upgrade Seacom can continue to its great work and help lead Africa into the next stage of ICT growth with scalable and competitive connectivity solutions," said Ed McCormack, Ciena Submarine Systems Vice President and General Manager.

In mid-January Seacom Managing Director Joseph Muriithi reiterated the company's commitment to continue supporting broadband penetration in Africa, and mentioned the East African community's mandate to ensure over 80% of its population has internet access by 2030.