Ribbon Communications announced on November 12, 2025 that it successfully completed a 20 terabits‑per‑second (Tbps) optical transmission field trial on the 10,000‑kilometer JUNO trans‑Pacific submarine cable. The trial used the company’s Apollo 9408 transponder, built on 5‑nanometer 140 Gb/s technology, and the Apollo 9608 platform, which integrates submarine‑grade optical line system functions. The system achieved 400 Gbps to 1.2 Tbps per wavelength, delivering a total of 20 Tbps per fiber pair across the cable’s full length.
The 20 Tbps figure represents a significant fraction of the JUNO cable’s design capacity of over 350 Tbps, which is enabled by space‑division multiplexing (SDM) that supports 20 fiber pairs. By demonstrating that Ribbon’s technology can scale to the longest submarine routes, the company shows it can meet the growing demand for high‑capacity, low‑latency connectivity between Japan and the United States. The trial also validates the cable’s wavelength‑selective switching (WSS) capability, allowing flexible allocation of capacity to customers as needs evolve.
From a business perspective, the milestone positions Ribbon as a competitive player in the high‑capacity global connectivity market. The ability to deliver 20 Tbps on a single fiber pair opens the door to future service contracts that could generate multi‑million‑dollar revenue streams for the company’s IP Optical Networks segment. The achievement also strengthens Ribbon’s value proposition against major competitors such as Cisco, Nokia, and Ericsson, and supports its strategy of expanding its footprint in the submarine cable ecosystem.
Ribbon’s recent financial performance provides context for the significance of this technical success. In Q3 2025, the company reported revenue of $215 million, a 2% year‑over‑year increase, but missed analyst estimates of $221 million. Non‑GAAP earnings per share were $0.04, falling short of the $0.06 forecast. The miss was largely attributed to lower software sales to U.S. government customers and a minor impact from the federal shutdown, which also contributed to margin compression. Despite these headwinds, the company’s disciplined cost management and strong growth in the IP Optical Networks segment—particularly in EMEA and India—provide a foundation for future revenue expansion.
CEO Bruce McClelland highlighted the trial as evidence of Ribbon’s “solid execution” in its high‑capacity optical portfolio, noting that the company’s focus on cloud‑centric and edge‑centric solutions is driving demand in international markets. CFO John Townsend emphasized disciplined operating expense discipline and positive adjusted EBITDA contribution from the IP Optical Networks segment, underscoring the company’s ability to maintain profitability amid investment in new technology.
The trial’s success signals that Ribbon is well positioned to capitalize on the growing need for high‑capacity submarine connectivity, even as it navigates short‑term financial headwinds. The company’s ability to deliver cutting‑edge optical performance on a global scale supports its long‑term strategy of expanding its submarine cable footprint and securing high‑value service contracts in a competitive market.
The overall sentiment of the announcement is positive, reflecting the company’s technical achievement and its potential to drive future revenue growth.
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