Zeus will run parallel but diverse to Zayo’s existing Circe North subsea route, directly connecting the UK to mainland Europe via Lowestoft, UK and Zandvoort, Netherlands.
The hybrid ultra-low-loss (ULL) cable is described as representing a ‘substantial upgrade’ in capabilities with a potential capacity of more than 4,000 TeraBytes per second. Zayo said that Zeus will enable critical connectivity and next generation technology within the corridor for carriers, hyperscalers and large enterprises dependent on low-latency, low-loss and high capacity bandwidth connections.
“The deployment of our subsea Zeus route demonstrates our commitment to expanding our network footprint in Europe while also providing high-quality, essential connections for customers between key global markets,” said Jesper Aagaard, president of Zayo, Europe.
“This investment will support the steep rise in global demand for bandwidth and capacity in data use and transfer across multiple sectors, primarily driven by a shift toward cloud services and the rapidly expanding number of networked devices and connections.”
Sustainability measures to ensure low emissions include the selection of a DEME Group Living Stone vessel powered by dual-fuel capabilities for the cable’s installation, in addition to utilising biodegradable grease and oil in addition to heat recuperation to decrease fuel consumption.
The cable will have a target burial depth of two to three metres below the surface of the sea bed to reduce risk of damage due to human activity such as fishing, providing ‘enhanced protection and increased service availability’, Zayo said in a statement.
Zayo is using Hexatronic’s high-fibre-count cable for the project, which will commence with marine operations in August 2021 and is expected to be operational by the end of the first quarter of 2022.