EllaLink and EXA Infrastructure partner to offer diverse transatlantic capacity from South America to Europe

EllaLink, the high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable directly connecting Europe with South America, and EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America, today announce a unique joint transatlantic service, connecting South America with the heart of Europe’s main business centres.

EllaLink and EXA Infrastructure partner to offer diverse transatlantic capacity from South America to Europe

Key takeaways

  • EllaLink and EXA Infrastructure announce a joint transatlantic service connecting South America with Europe’s main business centres
  • The 9,120 kilometres route enables Internet traffic to bypass North America
  • EXA has committed €39 million of network investments to date in Portugal and Spain
  • The two companies are also collaborating on the Olisipo project, connecting the main data centres and all the landing stations in Portugal
  • The EllaLink cable directly connects Brazil and Europe, initially offering 100Tbps of capacity over four direct fibre pairs

Joint transatlantic service announced

EllaLink, the high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable directly connecting Europe with South America, and EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America, today announce a unique joint transatlantic service, connecting South America with the heart of Europe’s main business centres.

EllaLink and EXA Infrastructure partner to offer diverse transatlantic capacity from South America to Europe

What the route delivers

Customers of both companies will benefit from the latest high capacity direct data route across the Atlantic that joins up with EXA’s extensive European footprint. The 9,120 kilometres route will enable Internet traffic to bypass North America, and it will deliver a 50 per cent increase in network performance between data centres in Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. Once landed, EllaLink’s customers will also benefit from optical connectivity to and from Sines in Portugal, thanks to the direct interconnect with EXA’s extensive pan-European network.

Route facts

  • Direct data route across the Atlantic joining EXA’s European footprint
  • Internet traffic bypasses North America
  • 50 per cent increase in network performance between data centres in Brazil, Portugal, and Spain
  • Optical connectivity to and from Sines in Portugal
  • Best Subsea Project of the Year at the Global Carrier Awards in 2019 and 2020

Comment from Nick Collins

Ellalink’s Brazil to Portugal routes won the Global Carrier Awards’ Best Subsea Project of the Year category in 2019 and 2020. According to Nick Collins, CCO at EXA Infrastructure, “The partnership with EllaLink testifies to EXA’s ambition to become the leading data centre to data centre connectivity provider in Europe and beyond. We have committed €39 million of network investments to date in Portugal and Spain and this partnership enables us to interconnect with South America, closing the connectivity gap for companies in this fast-growing, bandwidth-demanding environment.”

The Olisipo project and EllaLink’s view

Ellalink and EXA are also collaborating on the Olisipo project, a unique cable system connecting the main data centres and all the landing stations in Portugal. This project will reinforce connectivity and improve network infrastructure in Portugal, which is emerging as another key digital hub in southern Europe. “We understand the importance of securing diversity as an alternative to the north transatlantic routes. Combining EllaLink’s low latency network with EXA Infrastructure’s extensive and advanced footprint enhances both our portfolios and the value proposition we can offer to the market. This is a strong partnership for EllaLink, that will significantly benefit our customers” – says Vincent Gatineau, CSMO at EllaLink. “EXA is a leading company in the market with prime assets and robust experience. Our complementary connectivity offer has a compelling potential for customers demanding the highest quality and performance”.

About EXA Infrastructure

Headquartered in London, UK, EXA Infrastructure is the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America and owns 125,000 kilometres of fibre network across 34 countries. EXA’s network connects 300 cities and offers 13Tier 3-equivalent data centres, with sub-sea routes that include three transatlantic cables, one the lowest latency link between Europe and North America. EXA is wholly owned by I Squared Capital.

For more information, see exainfra.net

About EllaLink

EllaLink is a privately funded and independent company committed to providing products and services on a Carrier Neutral and Open Access basis. Marguerite II, a pan-European equity fund active in the renewables, energy, transport and digital infrastructure sectors, is the main shareholder of EllaLink. The EllaLink submarine cable system is an advanced optical platform offering secure high-capacity connectivity on a unique low latency transatlantic route serving the growing needs of the Latin American and European markets. The EllaLink network directly connects Brazil and Europe, linking the major hubs of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza with Lisbon, Madrid and Marseille. The EllaLink submarine cable system has been built with state-of-the-art coherent technology initially offering 100Tbps of capacity over four direct fibre pairs between Europe and Brazil.

For more information visit ella.link

Frequently asked questions

Who is EXA Infrastructure?

We own and operate 180,000 route km of fibre and duct across 31 countries, with nine transatlantic cable systems connecting Europe and North America. Backed by I Squared Capital, and run as a pure-play infrastructure company, independent of any hyperscaler or cloud.

What does EXA Infrastructure sell?

Dark Fibre, Spectrum, Wavelengths and Ethernet on routes we own, a Managed Fibre Network (MFN) where we run the network on your behalf, colocation at cable landing stations and amplifier sites, and technical services from design and build to full network outsourcing.

Where does the network reach?

Across Europe and the Atlantic: terrestrial routes from the Nordics to the Mediterranean and the Balkans, nine transatlantic systems into North America, and corridors extending east toward the Caucasus.

Who does EXA Infrastructure serve?

Hyperscalers, NeoClouds and content platforms, carriers and service providers, financial markets, and governments and critical infrastructure operators: organisations that want the physical layer on their own terms.

How do you buy from EXA Infrastructure?

Long-term IRUs to hold capacity outright, flexible leases without the long commitment, or fully managed services. The model is yours to pick; the network is the same either way.

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