Testing completed for new undersea connection to Sardinia

The testing of the dual link through the marine spectrum for connecting Sardinia to GARR-T network has been successfully completed. This new connection, part of the TeRABIT project, utilises both terrestrial fibre optic routes and optical spectrum on Sparkle's Bluemed submarine cable system, designed with the innovative "open cable" principle. This approach allows for the management of a broad range of spectrum rather than individual optical signals.

This achievement marks the first step towards establishing a next-generation infrastructure in Sardinia, provided by TIM. The infrastructure, fully integrated and unified with the rest of the backbone via a virtual fibre bridge, will ensure network scalability for the next 20 years, meeting emerging scientific challenges where Sardinia plays a leading role.

The interconnection is based on two links: one between Golfo Aranci and Rome and the other between Golfo Aranci and Milan. Both links rely on the exclusive use of optical spectrum (900 GHz each) on Sparkle's BlueMed submarine cable system.
The testing, conducted jointly by GARR, Infinera, and Sparkle, began on 17 June and was successfully completed on 12 July 2024, ensuring optimal performance and full functionality.

The testing was completed ahead of schedule and allowed the GARR optical infrastructure team to acquire the necessary know-how to operate the equipment and management systems specific to submarine cable technology. This experience will be crucial for completing the project by integrating the system with Sardinia's terrestrial infrastructure elements, a challenging and delicate next step expected in the coming months.