Telecom Fiji expands high-speed fibre to northern communities

Telecom Fiji has implemented a new backbone fibre network in the Northern Division, upgrading connectivity for homes, schools, and businesses across remote communities. The Savusavu to Labasa Fibre Project substitutes weather-vulnerable microwave links, offering more reliable and faster access to data services in a region historically constrained by network limitations.

Fibre deployment

This infrastructure project spans from the Savusavu submarine cable landing station through several key exchanges, including Savusavu, Seaqaqa, and Labasa. Using equipment supplied by Ciena, the network upgrade supports high-speed services up to 100GbE, delivering consistent and scalable data capacity throughout the area.

According to Telecom Fiji, the project is a critical component of a new five-year fibre investment plan to establish a resilient national backbone. The fibre link is designed to create a reliable data corridor, underpinning the expansion of digital opportunities across the Northern Division.

Upgrading equipment

Telecom Fiji opted for Ciena's 5184 router solution, which supports secure IP transport and advanced network features such as improved efficiency and temperature hardening. These options allow installations in street cabinets, bringing network hardware closer to local communities.

"Our goal was to connect underserved regions throughout the North, and the Savusavu to Labasa Fibre Project is an important step towards doing that," said Mesake Tuinabua, Chief Technology Officer, Telecom Fiji. "Next, we are focusing on extending the network so even more businesses and communities can benefit."

The network is additionally slated for further enhancement with the planned integration of Ciena's WaveLogic 5 Nano (WL5n) pluggables. The WL5n technology enables faster transmission speeds by embedding coherent optical capabilities directly into routers. This approach aims to reduce cost, space, and power usage, supporting both metropolitan and regional connectivity requirements as well as Data Centre Interconnect deployments.

Digital inclusion

Increasing access to high-speed internet in Fiji's north is expected to play a major role in improving economic outcomes and access to education. Reliable fibre connectivity also supports better preparedness and responsiveness during natural disasters. The new fibre links are intended to help bridge the digital divide by bringing urban-class service to more remote areas.

"This network upgrade is a great example of our shared commitment with Telecom Fiji to close the digital divide and connect more communities," said Phil Rolle, Regional Managing Director, Subsea, Asia Pacific, Japan and India, Ciena. "By deploying our adaptive and scalable technology, we're helping to build a future-ready network that will bring reliable, high-speed connectivity to those who need it most."

Telecom Fiji's project is set to expand its fibre footprint to additional communities in the future.