Vodafone is now using 100-Gbps technology from Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) to link two of its data centers in New Zealand. The links represent the first deployment of 100-Gbps technology in the country, Ciena asserts.

“Data use on Vodafone’s mobile network has grown by over 125% year on year and on our fixed network we’ve seen a 90% year-on-year increase,” said Vodafone’s Chief Network Officer Tony Baird via a Ciena press release. “Now many customers have started using the Internet, email, and applications like Facebook on their smartphone, and their home network for content like TV and movies, it is rapidly becoming a way of life and this trend shows no sign of slowing.

“Upgrading the network between our two Auckland data centers to the fastest in New Zealand means we can stay ahead of the curve for our customers with the ever increasing use of bandwidth intensive data services,” Baird concluded.

Vodafone installed the coherent-based 100-Gbps technology on its Ciena 6500 Packet-Optical Platforms. The installation did not disrupt existing services because the new 100-Gbps capabilities can run alongside existing 10- and 40-Gbps channels, Ciena says.

“Service providers across the globe are looking to improve their network efficiency and reliability while also expanding capacity to meet surging demand from a new breed of smartphone and tablet users,” says Anthony McLachlan, Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific, Ciena. “Vodafone New Zealand is an excellent example of a company with the forward vision to deploy network technologies that suit their present-day requirements and also lay the groundwork to support future expansion and network services at speeds that reach 100 Gbps and beyond.”