Laser Light Companies, Nokia to accelerate, scale deployment of all-optical global network
Laser Light Companies and Nokia have agreed on a $25 million (€22.88) (USD) Beta Programme to commence the deployment of Laser Light’s planned global all-optical network. In the agreement, Laser Light will use Nokia optical and IP solutions and technologies to enable the first stage of its planned Extended Ground Network System (“XGNS”) to reach and serve diverse locations. Following the initial Beta in Australia, other Beta locations are planned for the United States, Chile, Spain, and Africa later this year. When completed, Laser Light and Nokia’s Beta Programme will operate a meshed global platform connecting 5 continents, enabling demonstration of advanced data services and the platform to support integration activities ahead of the global commercial network.
“Nokia has been a wonderful strategic partner for us this past year, and we are honored to be able to continue our collaboration on our network,” says Bob Brumley, chairman and CEO of Laser Light Companies. “Their commitment to our Beta Program, combined with their technologies and expertise, will allow us to accelerate and scale our deployment even further and faster.”
Laser Light’s global elastic network will initially comprise more than 200 locations of globally meshed optical infrastructure subsea cable, terrestrial fibre, data facilities, and a constellation of all-optical satellites to offer highly secure, high capacity, low latency data services to users in the metro, near & far edge data markets. Each location will serve regional, local defined data pools, seeking low latency, lower cost access to cloud services, including edge computing content delivery.
“We are honoured to have been working closely with Laser Light since our Memorandum of Collaboration announcement last year. Together with Laser Light’s and Nokia’s partners, we look forward to delivering Laser Light’s Beta program ahead of the global XGNS rollout. Laser Light’s vision for service innovation and advanced customer use cases is exciting and transformational.” says Stuart Hendry, head of enterprise for Asia Pacific and Japan, Nokia.
Nokia’s Australian operations will also serve as Laser Light’s global partner for its overall XGNS programme, including provision of selective R&D, advanced engineering, collaborative optics and IP capabilities.
Building on the existing 5G Tech Lab at UTS in Sydney, Nokia intends to complete integration of the Beta at an expanded facility, enabling future collaboration between Laser Light, Nokia, UTS, research and industry partners. Advanced data and analytics and innovative use cases are a focus of Laser Light’s global data service delivery platform.
In addition, Laser Light also announced that it has engaged DelMorgan & Co., an internationally recognised investment banking firm, as its transaction advisor to explore a capital raise and other growth alternatives. Rob Delgado, chairman of DelMorgan, comments, “We are excited to be working with the Laser Light team to create the next-generation platform for global data connectivity.” Neil Morganbesser, DelMorgan’s president & CEO, adds, “Laser Light’s vision is truly transformative, and the Nokia partnership is the encouraging development. We look forward to the opportunity to connect Laser Light with financial investors who can provide the capital to fully realise that vision.”
Comment on this article below or via Twitter @IoTGN