Trans Americas Fiber System Deploys Ciena High-Capacity Optical Technology on TAM-1 Submarine Cable

Production of the TAM-1 Submarine Cable System Commences

Oslo, Norway – May 15, 2024 – Nexans, a global leader in cable solutions, has started production of TAM-1, a new fiberoptic submarine cable network owned by Trans Americas Fiber System. TAM-1 will span 7,000 kilometers, establishing a high-speed route from the US(Florida) to a diverse set of countries including the Northern Caribbean (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands), Mexico, Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama), and Colombia.

With procurement of the raw materials complete, cable production for the system has now started in Rognan, Nexans’ long-standing submarine cable production facility in northern Norway, which can manufacture up to 10,000 kilometers per year. 

The cables form part of the Nexans ROC-2 product line, a state-of-the-art solution for high-performance subsea connectivity. For TAM-1, up to 24 optical fiber pairs are included in the cable, with a range of different armoring types deployed throughout the system.  An industry standard vault armoring creates a robust resistance towards the very deep waters encountered along the routes. 

“I am excited that the manufacture of one of the key elements of our ground breaking system is now under way. TAM-1 progress continues on track for our planned Ready For Service date in 2025,” says Julio Bran, Chief Executive Officer of Trans Americas Fiber System. With Keith Henderson, CEO of Xtera, adding, “This project builds on the strong, long-standing relationship between Xtera and Nexans, who have completed a number of successful deployments together in the past”. 

Krister Granlie, Vice President, of Nexans Submarine Telecom and Special Cables commented “I am pleased to support this large and exciting system with our experienced team in Rognan, demonstrating Nexans’ strength and commitment to the subsea telecoms market.” 

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About Nexans – Nexans is a global cable provider with more than 27 000 employees and presence in 42 countries. Our long-standing experience and extensive global presence underscore our commitment to advancing connectivity. Nexans’ solutions are at the forefront of industry innovation, reinforcing infrastructures across the planet to electrify the future. For more information, please visit www.nexans.com

About Xtera – Xtera is an innovative provider of subsea and telecom technology. The Company supplies both repeatered and unrepeatered systems, using its high-performance optical amplifiers to deliver traffic directly inland to cities and offering flexibility in working with industry partners to provide the optimum solution. Xtera has considerable expertise in the Caribbean and America regions.  For more information, please visit www.xtera.com  or contact info@xtera.com.

About Trans Americas Fiber System -Trans Americas Fiber System is the creator of a fluid, scalable and dynamic fiber network revolutionizing the way operators buy and utilize bandwidth, connecting markets like never before. Led by a highly experienced team, Trans Americas Fiber System is building a state-of-the-art subsea network that will be best-in-class across the Americas region and beyond, delivering high connectivity and low latency solutions. TAM-1 will be the first scalable neutral system connecting Central America and the Caribbean to the US for decades. The system will be Ready for Service in 2025, to learn more please visit www.transamericasfiber.com.

Contact info@transamericasfiber.com for further information about capacity solutions and services.

MIAMI, Fla. and HANOVER, Md. –October 21, 2025 –Trans Americas Fiber System (TAFS) is transforming digital infrastructure across the Americas with its new TAM-1 subsea cable system, a next-generation network designed to deliver unprecedented capacity, scalability, and resiliency to the region. TAM-1 will be the first scalable, neutral fiber system built in decades to connect Central America and the Caribbean directly to the U.S., with landing points in Mexico, Colombia, and key markets across the region.

TAM-1 is designed with a total system capacity of more than 650 Tbps across 24 fiber pairs southbound and 12 northbound. To bring this design to life, TAFS is working with leading technology providers and has selected Ciena’s (NYSE: CIEN), high-capacity optical solutions — including GeoMesh Extreme powered by WaveLogic 6 Extreme and the 6500 Reconfigurable Line System (RLS) — to light portions of its cable system. This open architecture supports spectrum sharing and fluid scalability, allowing operators to expand seamlessly as demand for connectivity accelerates.

“At TAFS, we are leading a new generation of fluid connectivity for the Americas, one that redefines how networks are built, accessed, and scaled,” said Julio Bran, CEO of TAFS. “As we pursue this vision, we are choosing Ciena  — not only for their technology, but for their alignment with our mission to deliver flexible, efficient, and future-ready digital infrastructure. TAM-1 is designed to disrupt the status quo, and together we are setting a new standard for connectivity in the region.”

The 7,200 km TAM-1 system features two diverse subsea routes, enhancing resiliency while enabling low-latency connectivity for critical applications. With its programmable and automated design, TAM-1 is purpose-built to support the bandwidth needs of AI, cloud, 5G, edge computing, streaming, and enterprise services — representing a massive leap forward compared to legacy systems currently operating in the region.

“Trans Americas Fiber System’s TAM-1 cable system is designed to provide seamless and reliable connectivity across the trans-Americas region,” said Thomas Soerensen, Vice President of Global Submarine Solutions, Ciena. “Leveraging Ciena’s GeoMesh solution and optical networking expertise, TAM-1 will be poised to power the region’s surging bandwidth demands driven by cloud, video streaming, AI and more.”

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About Trans Americas Fiber System

Trans Americas Fiber System is building the most dynamic, neutral, and future-ready subsea fiber network in the Americas, delivering scalable, open-access connectivity across the U.S., Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and the Caribbean. With TAM-1, TAFS is revolutionizing how operators buy and utilize bandwidth through a fluid and scalable architecture that delivers unparalleled connectivity and low latency solutions.

The northern route of TAM-1 will be Ready for Service (RFS) in Q4 2025, followed by the southern route in Q1 2026. To learn more, visit www.transamericasfiber.com or contact info@transamericasfiber.com for information about capacity solutions and services.

About Ciena

Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world’s most adaptive networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, components, automation software, and services, Ciena revolutionizes data transmission and network management. With unparalleled expertise and innovation, we empower our customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn and X, or visit the Ciena Insights webpage and Ciena website.