Telefonica lights up 200G interconnection to cope with surging mobile data roaming

The 2600MHz band released to Safaricom for 5G was previously used by Kenya's security agencies.

Telefonica International Wholesale Services (TIWS) has switched on its first 200 Gigabit Ethernet redundant data roaming interconnection in response to what it calls ‘significant growth’ in mobile roaming traffic.

TIWS launched its first 200G Ethernet interconnection with Telefonica Spain, one of its most traffic-intensive customers, in August. The new redundant interconnection – based on the link aggregation (LAG) of 100 Gigabit Ethernet interconnections and coupled with an upgraded backbone – is designed to future-proof TIWS’s infrastructure to cope with ongoing growth in demand.

“IPX providers, like Telefonica, have a key role to play to provide mobile operators with the interconnection options they need to meet customer connectivity and experience expectations. We are committed to delivering a high quality experience, not just for our operator customers but also for their customers,” said Juan Carlos Bernal, CEO of TIWS, in a statement.

TIWS’s new redundant interconnection comes as operators in the EU experience a surge in mobile data roaming, sparked by last year’s abolition of roaming charges. According to TIWS, mobile data roaming traffic in the EU has tripled over the last 12 months. Being a popular tourist destination, Spain has borne the brunt of this increase.

“With the increase in traffic that we expect in the future, it is important that we prepare our network to handle it, and we are confident that this 200G interconnection will ensure our customers receive the service that they demand,” said Ignacio de los Mozos Cuadrado, Director Wholesale Business, Telefonica Spain.

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