Data centres are the foundation for digital growth, with 56 data centres in operation in New Zealand, another 20 in the pipeline and an expected NZ$10 billion being invested into data centre growth over the next decade.
To meet this growing demand for secure, high-capacity data transmission, Spark Wholesale (Spark) is launching a dedicated Data Centre Interconnect (DCI) service using Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) 1.6Tb/s coherent technology.
The new service will enable organisations to connect critical infrastructure and transfer large volumes of data using private, uncontended connectivity.
Spark is leveraging WL6e coherent optics running on the Waveserver platform, which is optimised to advance DCI deployments across metro, regional, and longer-distance networks. Spark is also utilizing Ciena’s Navigator Network Control Suite, for comprehensive visibility and management of its network, enabling automated capacity planning, service fulfillment, and troubleshooting.
Spark Wholesale DCI is available now and delivers 10G, 100G, and 400G services, and up to 800G connectivity in the near future between regional data centres across Auckland, with initial coverage extending from Silverdale in the north to Papakura in the south. For more information, visit sparkwholesale.co.nz/dci.
Telstra successfully transported four 400GbE client services over a single wavelength, without regeneration, operating in L-band spectrum between Melbourne and Sydney on a live production network running on Ciena's WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e). The milestone extends the distance over which the companies previously demonstrated 1.6 Tb/s transmission by approximately 50% to approximately 1,100 km, across one of Australia’s busiest intercity network corridors.
To optimise the use of optical spectrum beyond the traditional C-band, Telstra leveraged Ciena’s 6500 Reconfigurable Line System (RLS) C+L band optical line system, together with WL6e. Telstra’s Aura Network also made possible this landmark feat as a high-performing fibre route that delivers ultra-low loss infrastructure.
Raj Singh, Tribe Lead, Spark Wholesale
New Zealand's digital future is full of opportunity. Together, Ciena and Spark Wholesale are creating the high-performance foundations that will help organisations harness AI, accelerate innovation and confidently scale for what's next. We're excited to be investing in the infrastructure that will power the next generation of growth across New Zealand.
Matt Vesperman, Vice President, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, Ciena
New Zealand is emerging as a strategic regional hub for hyperscale and AI data centres. Spark is taking advantage of this opportunity, creating a foundation for delivering high-speed DCI services with Ciena’s WaveLogic technology. This achievement raises the bar for what’s possible in terrestrial optical networking. Ciena’s industry-leading coherent optical technology powers Telstra's advanced Aura Network, unlocking additional capacity through L-band expansion and realising unprecedented performance at distances previously thought unattainable.
Sandy Cameron, Telstra Digital Infrastructure Executive
This trial demonstrates how Telstra’s Aura Network can unlock significantly more capacity by extending beyond the traditional C-band into L-band spectrum. For customers, that means greater scalability and the ability to support growing demand from AI, cloud, and data-intensive applications across Australia, both today and into the future.
