Submarine cable SMW-5 (SEA-ME-WE 5)
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Technology & capacity
SMW-5 uses the latest fiber optic technology and offers a capacity of up to 24 Tbit/s, which represents a significant increase over SMW-4 and meets the growing requirements of international companies on the Asia-Europe route. Essentially, these are the technological features:
- Coherent transmission technology: SMW-5 uses state-of-the-art coherent optics for efficient and stable data transmission over the entire cable length.
- Significantly increased capacity: With up to 24 Tbit/s, SMW-5 offers a considerably higher bandwidth than its predecessor for the growing data traffic on the route.
- The latest generation of fibre optic technology for minimal signal loss and optimized latency on the entire Asia-Europe route.
Provider Overview
SAVECALL as access to SMW-5
SMW-5 is the more modern and higher-capacity alternative to SMW-4 for companies with a presence along the Asia-Europe route and is therefore one of the central cable options for latency-sensitive applications between Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The significantly increased capacity and more modern technology make SMW-5 particularly attractive for companies with high and growing bandwidth requirements on this route. Combining both systems today provides true redundancy on one of the world’s most important cable routes. This is exactly where SAVECALL comes in. We have direct access to the market, analyze your connectivity strategy and source capacities on SMW-5 specifically for your requirements.
The result for our customers:
- Direct capacity access to SMW-5 without reseller chains
- Transparent price benchmarking and market data
- More modern and higher-capacity alternative to SMW-4 on the Asia-Europe route
- Negotiation of IRU structures and leased capacity models
- Clear SLAs and ongoing capacity management
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Why
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Frequently asked questions about the SMW-5 cable
SMW-5 (SEA-ME-WE 5) connects Singapore in the east with France and Italy in the west, crossing the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Along the roughly 20,000-kilometer route, the cable lands in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, among others. This makes SMW-5 one of the most established trade routes between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
The cable was originally designed for a capacity of up to 24 Tbit/s across 3 fibre pairs using coherent 100G transmission technology. In 2019, a technology upgrade increased the design capacity to around 36.6 Tbit/s. This gives SMW-5 considerably more bandwidth than its predecessor SMW-4 and covers the growing demand on the Asia-Europe route.
SMW-5 has been in service since December 2016. It is operated by a consortium of around 15 international carriers, including Orange, Singtel, Sri Lanka Telecom, Telecom Italia Sparkle, Saudi Telecom Company and Telekom Malaysia. The segments were built by Alcatel Submarine Networks between Sri Lanka and France, and by NEC between Singapore and Sri Lanka.
All three systems belong to the SEA-ME-WE family and largely follow the same route between Asia and Europe. SMW-4 has offered the broadest landing point coverage since 2005, but the lowest capacity. SMW-5 has stood out since 2016 with coherent 100G technology and considerably more bandwidth. SMW-6, as the newest system, will offer the highest capacity in the family. The right choice depends on location, budget and redundancy strategy.
True redundancy exists when capacity sits on physically separate cable systems and landing points. Companies using SMW-5 sensibly complement their connectivity with SMW-4 or SMW-6 on a different path within the SEA-ME-WE family, or with a completely independent system such as AAE-1. SAVECALL analyzes your existing connectivity strategy and identifies the right complement for true resilience.
SAVECALL has direct market access to SMW-5 and the relevant consortium partners and sources capacity specifically for your requirements without reseller chains. We handle the analysis of your connectivity strategy, price benchmarking and the negotiation of IRU structures or leased capacity models. Book a free consultation to discuss your requirements and the right capacity on SMW-5.
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