EXA Infrastructure & Nokia Boost Network Capacity by 15%
EXA Infrastructure, a leader in digital infrastructure, has announced a significant partnership with Nokia to modernise its international optical backbone.
The collaboration aims to reshape data centre connectivity, delivering higher capacity, lower latency and significant reductions in both cost and power per bit - both key priorities for telecommunications providers facing surging AI and cloud demands.
Ciaran Delaney, Chief Operating Officer at EXA Infrastructure, stated: “Nokia’s 1830 GX solution with ICE7 coherent optics ensures a smooth transition from our existing ICE6-based infrastructure.
“The advanced performance of ICE7 will significantly enhance connectivity, empowering EXA Infrastructure’s global network to deliver robust services that keep pace with increasing bandwidth demands.”
Unmatched capacity and efficiency
EXA Infrastructure’s upgrade leverages Nokia’s 1830 Global Express (GX) platform and ICE7 1.2T coherent optics.
The technology enables a 1.2 terabit-per-second (Tb/s) per channel network, a 15% increase in capacity over previous systems, while cutting both power and cost per bit by up to 50%.
The result is a substantial leap in operational efficiency and sustainability, directly supporting the needs of hyperscalers, enterprises and governments across 37 countries.
James Watt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Optical Networks at Nokia, explains, “Driving down power consumption per bit is not just important from a sustainability point of view, but is essential if providers are to meet spiralling connectivity needs because power requirements are a potential limiting factor to data centre growth.
“Nokia’s industry-leading solutions ensure networks are not just keeping pace but staying ahead to meet surging bandwidth demands.”
Supporting critical infrastructure and business growth
EXA Infrastructure’s network spans 155,000 kilometres of fibre and includes six transatlantic cables, offering the lowest-latency route between Europe and North America.
By design, the modernised backbone meets the escalating requirements of AI workloads, high-frequency trading and cloud integration, providing ultra-low latency and high-capacity services between major data centres.
Its recent investments, including expanded fibre connectivity at Telehouse South in London, reinforce its commitment to supporting mission-critical digital infrastructure for businesses and public sector clients.
“This new investment will extend and complement the advanced services we already provide to the dynamic London market... enabling our customers to boost their growth.”
Nokia’s partnership with EXA Infrastructure is part of a broader strategy to support the global data centre and AI economy.
It has recently achieved a 10% rise in quarterly net sales, driven by its expanding footprint in data centre networking and hyperscale AI cloud projects.
Choosing Nokia technology by leading cloud providers like CoreWeave, deploying Nokia’s IP and optical platforms to support high-performance AI workloads across the US and Europe.
Paul Alexander, Vice President and Country General Manager of UK & Ireland at Nokia, highlights the company’s vision: “At Nokia, we are committed to driving the next generation of network infrastructure by delivering cutting-edge technology that enhances performance, efficiency and scalability.
"With the growing need for high-speed, high-capacity networks to support advancements in AI and 6G, this trial exemplifies the critical role of innovation in helping businesses and data centres stay ahead of the curve.”
Proven performance and future-ready solutions
The partnership’s success builds on an industry-first trial of Nokia’s ICE7 solution in Europe, which demonstrated seamless integration and scalability without needing major infrastructure overhauls. EXA Infrastructure’s modernised network is now positioned to deliver the reliability, flexibility and efficiency required by the world’s most demanding digital businesses.
For telecommunications providers, the collaboration sets a new benchmark in optical networking, offering a pathway to scale, sustainability and competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving digital landscape
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