Transmode builds fiber optic network for Ishavslink inside Arctic Circle

Stockholm - Transmode, a leading provider of Optical Networking Solutions, today announced that Ishavslink, a Norwegian regional network operator, has built a digital highway providing the whole Finnmark territory (North-West Norway) with an optical communications network.

Ishavslink has used Transmode’s TM-Series optical networking platform and in addition Transmode also project-managed the installation, commissioning and testing of the network. Following the installation of the TM-Series in over 12 hubs, Ishavslink now has the infrastructure that gives regional and international carriers the ability to offer their customers triple-play services, including high-speed broadband, Internet, TV and telephone.

Ishavslink’s network stretches over 800 km and reaches 35-40,000 homes with a fiber ring from Kirkenes near the Russian border in the east, to Alta in the West. (See attached map). The fiber ring allows remote communities to stay in touch with the rest of the world. Finnmark is strategically situated at the northernmost part of continental Europe inside the Arctic Circle where Norway meets Russia.

“We selected the Transmode TM-Series with its Intelligent WDM (iWDM™) technology because it provided us with a high performance network at low cost,” said Odd Levy, CEO of Ishavslink. “Our need was to rapidly build a robust flexible network that could scale. We looked at several vendors but chose Transmode because we were convinced its products met our needs and would cope with the harsh conditions in our territory. The Transmode-managed project also took less than four months to complete and so met our timetable.”

By maximizing the number of available wavelengths on the network, Transmode significantly increased the potential capacity of the optical ring. Using dual 10G Transponders to carry 2 x 10 Gbit/s services the network provides Ishavslink with a highly dense solution and the ring allows for expansion of all services.

"We are delighted to have helped Ishavslink build a robust network in Finnmark,” said Björn Andersson, Vice President Sales at Transmode.” Through this new network deployment, Ishavslink has not only brought high speed communications to very isolated communities but is now in a position for future growth and because of its location could potentially carry transcontinental traffic from Russia to Europe.”

About Ishavslink

Ishavslink AS is a regional network owner and operator in the northern Norwegian state of Finnmark. It has built a high capacity digital highway around Finnmark, This communications network is resold to telecom operators, IT service companies and other large users of communications. The highway supports a range of services including business and private broadband services (Internet, TV and telephony) and e-learning.

Ishavslink is owned by Alta Kraftlag AL, Finnmark County Council, County Broadband Troms AS, Hammerfest Energi AS, Luostejok Kraftlag AL, North Troms Kraftlag AS, Repvåg Kraftlag AL, Uninett and Ventelo AS.

A sketch map of Ishavslink their digital highway is shown on the attached map. Local connections can be established along the entire route.

About Transmode

Transmode is a leading provider of optical networking solutions for transport of data, voice and video traffic, based on CWDM and DWDM technology (Coarse/Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing).

Transmode’s unique Intelligent WDM (iWDM™) approach has lead to widespread deployment of over 10000 systems in a customer base consisting of more than 250 fixed and mobile network operators, service providers, large enterprises and public institutions across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Transmode’s comprehensive product portfolio and strong global organization enable our customers to grow the capacity and to improve service level of their regional, metro and metro access networks, on a cost-efficient basis without compromising on functionality.

For additional information about Transmode, please visit www.transmode.com.