NJFX

NJFX Secures Position as Major CLS Connectivity Hub

NJFX Secures Position as Major CLS Connectivity Hub

Marks first half of 2019 with the company’s unprecedented growth, industry recognition and thought leadership

July 26, 2019

NJFX, the only Cable Landing Station (CLS) colocation campus in the U.S offering, Tier 3, carrier-neutral data center capabilities, experienced unprecedented growth in the first half of 2019, securing its position as major a hub of connectivity for North America and beyond. NJFX executives have proven their thought leadership and expertise to become in demand speakers at several high-profile industry events, and have earned awards and recognition that highlight the company’s most recent achievements.NJFX was honored by the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) for construction excellence. Founded in 1986, TCA is comprised of architects, engineers, suppliers, general contractors, concrete subcontractors, and developers that support site-cast Tilt-Up construction techniques. This is a special construction technique using concrete and is known for energy efficiency, safety, security, durability, expandability, sustainability. NJFX’s highly reliable and secure facility is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and was built using this technique. 

TMT’s Global Excellence Program recognized NJFX and presented the company the Best Global Connectivity Solutions award for its Cable Landing Station (CLS) campus ecosystem, which enables enterprises, financials, content providers, media, government, and telecoms to have maximized redundancy, reduced latency, and better quality connections. All with fewer international points of failure – validating the protection of their international traffic.NJFX Founder and CEO Gil Santaliz was recognized as part of Capacity Media’s Power 100, the first ever listing of 100 of the most influential men and women in the wholesale telecommunications industry. Capacity Media’s criteria for landing a spot on the coveted list included those known for being innovators, critical thinkers and agents of change who are continuously pushing the industry forward.

The first part of 2019 also brought lots of activity on the thought leadership front, as NJFX brought expertise to the industry’s premier event, the Pacific Telecommunications Council conference (PTC). Founder and CEO Gil Santaliz presented at the event’s annual “Global Submarine Cable Update”, a highlight of the event, as industry leaders provided the latest on subsea cable projects and regulation around the globe. VP of Business Development Roy Hilliard addressed issues around scalable and agile network infrastructures and how networks can evolve to support and enable IoT adoption and prepare for the coming of 5G. 

From Hawaii to London, the next stop for Santaliz was speaking at this year’s Submarine Networks EMEA 2019 event. Santaliz was invited as a member of the keynote panel, entitled ‘Making waves: Emerging strategies & opportunities in the subsea cable industry’. He discussed North America’s vast data center landscape and the massive shift occurring across Atlantic subsea cables, and what happens when those cables reach their economic end of life. 

At Capacity Media’s Wan Summit in New York in April, Hilliard presented a use case presentation along with a leader in the banking industry entitled, “Operational Independence – Rethinking Network Architecture and Ownership.” The case study provided a closer look at the challenges faced by enterprises and financials today on the U.S. east coast and the innovative solutions that are critical for the industry to consider in achieving operational independence.Santaliz also brought his expertise to CAPRE’s Eighth Annual Greater New York Data Center & Cloud Infrastructure Summit on April 18th in Times Square.  Santaliz spoke on the panel entitled, “Cloud On-Ramps: Finding Data Centers with Connectivity to Major Cloud Providers”. Discussion included the vitality of an on ramp, transparency in data center cloud applications, cloud consolidation and more.

Then it was on to San Diego for Hilliard for the ICPC Conference. This year’s theme was Critical Infrastructure Across the Oceans – Protecting Submarine Cables and the Marine Environment. 

Global communications are dependent on subsea infrastructure and today it’s becoming more critical than ever to ensure cables are resilient on every front – seabed, cable landing station level and even how they interconnect with terrestrial fiber backhaul networks. Several additional major milestones also marked the first half of 2019. NJFX achieved its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) certification

NJFX is the only Cable Landing Station in North America to earn this certification, demonstrating its continued leadership in the telecommunications industry. This certification reflects the most stringent standards for data centers in the industry and are required for all facilities hosting medical records.NJFX welcomed a Point of Presence (PoP) for NetIX, a Europe-based carrier class Ethernet exchange. This is the first entry into the U.S. market by NetIX. The company was recently recognized at Capacity’s Global Carrier Awards as “Best Internet Exchange”, confirming the marketplace’s trust in the company’s platform. Neutrona Networks also secured a PoP at NJFX. Neutrona is a leading managed network service provider. This PoP brings a greater experience of connectivity to Latin America (LATAM). With partners like Neutrona Networks, NJFX is quickly becoming the alternate LATAM hub, providing options that bypass the congested Florida region in route to LATAM. 

At ITW in Atlanta, Bulk Infrastructure announced the Nordic Gateway, originating from NJFX. The Nordic Gateway is the on-ramp solution into the Havfrue Cable System, Bulk Infrastructurestretching 7,200 kilometers from New Jersey to Denmark and Norway. 

With Bulk’s exclusive ownership to the Norwegian branch of the cable system, Bulk controls six routes in the system between the USA, Ireland, Denmark and Norway. 

Bulk’s Nordic Gateway unlocks one of the few genuinely sustainable solutions in the data center industry today. With this solution, the data center industry can utilize 100% pure emissions-free hydropower from the Nordic countries. 

Bulk has chosen NJFX in Wall, NJ as the US on-ramp location for the Nordic Gateway.For a bit of fun all in the name of a good cause, NJFX participated in the Hoboken Angelwish Wiffleball Classic to benefit an organization that helps bring joy to children living with chronic illnesses by allowing individuals to grant holiday and birthday gifts online. “NJFX takes great pride in being able to contribute to causes like Angelwish; we feel that giving back to the community that you live and work in is paramount. At NJFX, corporate social responsibility is something that is held to a great degree of importance,” comments Santaliz. “In addition to consciously participating in charities, fundraisers, and local events, we are transparent in our business practices. 

We think it all adds up to ensuring the company will remain in high regard with employees, customers and the community.” With NJFX’s thought leadership on strengthening network resiliency, prioritizing network diversity and providing accessible connectivity with international subsea cable systems, the company is on the forefront of a transparent solution for carriers and customers alike. All of this is uniquely available in a carrier-neutral setting that is strategically positioned 64 feet above sea level in a Tier III, secure facility on the Jersey Shore. Stay tuned for more major developments ahead! 

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

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Read More »

The New Wave of SMART Cables

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NJFX Secures Position as Major CLS Connectivity Hub Read More »

There Is a Greater Good Involved

There Is a Greater Good Involved

An interview with Gil Santaliz, CEO of NJFX

Gil Santaliz

CEO

July 19, 2019

WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ

Editor’s Note: NJFX CEO Gil Santaliz is one of the most colorful people in the submarine cable industry.  During ITW, SubCableWorld had the pleasure to sit down and speak with him about a wide range of topics, including a number of recent announcements regarding the North Atlantic market and Mr. Santaliz’s views on working to benefit society.  His comments are below. 

Mr. Santaliz: This is an exciting time for our company and the industry in general.  NJFX made a major announcement last week and there were several made here at ITW that involve companies we work with. 

Our announcement was that a Point of Presence (PoP) has been established at our submarine cable landing station and data center campus by Neutrona Networks, which has an extensive network throughout Latin America.

What Neutrona brings to the table is 15 years of experience in knowing how Latin America really works.  The average US-Latin America provider doesn’t know the intricacies of all the capillarity and all the little guys that you have to pull together to make Latin America work.  What Neutrona has done is taken that expertise in the marketplace and brought it to the US in a platform that you can plug in and get all that infrastructure — point and click. 

Neutrona’s SDN platform in Latin America makes it a lot easier for the carriers to be able to navigate without having to figure out what’s down there and how it works.  Just like in the US, no one wants to hear that their network went down because their manhole caught fire and they thought they had four carriers, but it turns out they’re all in the same manhole.  What Neutrona has done is figured out the countries and manholes and beach landings and pulled it all together.  The biggest US carriers depend on Neutrona to get it right.  Now, Neutrona is making that available to the multinational enterprise.  For example, for a large enterprise that has 12 countries that it needs to reach in Latin America, Neutrona will give you one price for 12 countries. 

Another major announcement involves Aqua Comms and the AEC-2 transatlantic cable.  AEC-2 is Aqua Comms’ branding of fiber pairs of the Havfrue cable system.  Aqua Comms also announced that it would connect AEC-2 to the Interxion data center in Denmark. 

Think about what Nigel Bayliff has accomplished at Aqua Comms.  He is a great success story in that he repositioned his company in the industry and went from AEC-1, to AEC- 2 and next up is a North Atlantic- US loop. He created a solution that the industry was looking for, with diversity yet consistency in how they operate. 

Aqua Comms doesn’t compete with its customers.  They’re not leaving the NJFX cable station.  They say to their customers “You can pick it up here, sell to all your customers, and buy it by the drink, not the firehose.  What would you like to have?  There is plenty of capacity as your needs and requirements change.”

Remember, Aqua Comms also has existing customers on the other systems.  They’re now offering everyone optionality. They’ll attract a whole new set of customers that wouldn’t have bought before because they didn’t have that second loop connection.  So, the loop really provides a good resiliency for that service. 

Another announcement was made by Bulk Infrastructure, one of Aqua Comms’ partners in the Havfrue system.  Bulk announced the Nordic Gateway at ITW, an on-ramp solution accessing fiber networks that unlocks the Nordic region’s sustainable natural resources.  They are unique because Peder Naerboe, Bulk’s owner and chairman, now has a higher cause – to see the world embrace renewable energy, which Norway can do.  What Norway is missing is the access to global networks.  Naerboe’s passion is to make Norway a connected point and if you combine that with what Aqua Comms is now doing, they’re both pulling the same wagon for the country of Norway. 

Bulk had a launch event recently announcing that its on-ramp for Europe is at NJFX.  Carriers can access the Havfrue cable system there and can take you to either Ireland, Denmark or Norway. Bulk is embracing the natural resources of Norway – renewable energy. And they’re partnering with folks that can make that happen, get Norway more interconnected and have the assets to make Norway the center of hyperscale cloud infrastructure. 

Bulk Infrastructure is just getting started.  They’re looking to do more projects and get involved in more partnerships.  I think you’ll see a lot of news this year from Bulk regarding how they will approach connectivity between Europe and the US.  You’ll see partnerships that you never thought of before. 

There are important developments going on in the US as well.  At NJFX, we are very aware that the data centers are no longer where the people are.  25 years ago, New York City led the US in data center space.  Back then, data centers were in office buildings and in closets.  “Where’s your data center?  Well, it’s down the hallway or in the basement.  I’ve got 20 servers in there and the AC is humming.” 

The people are still in the Northeast, around one-third of the country’s population is there, but where is the cloud infrastructure?  South of the Mason-Dixon Line.  And how do you get to the cloud infrastructure?  It’s via the same congested routes that were built 20 years ago down the I-95 corridor. 

What the subsea guys are starting to realize is that the infrastructure can’t support it. There are various groups talking about a project using the ocean along the East Coast to get up and down the coast because the cost and the right of way issues in the US are insurmountable.  It’s either a railroad or a highway, and it’s not cheap either way.  The days of a network not being available is no longer an option for any industry, so customers need to find alternative routes. 

The industry I think about the most is the banking industry.  They’re in the business of trust and provide us with much needed liquidity.  The banks are finding themselves in an awkward position in that the network was never their core competency, but nowadays they have to be very, very good at this.  Now, they need to know how their network works.  The next wave of OTTs could be banks.  They can’t afford to be left behind.  I’m sure we will see more on this front in the year ahead. Facebook has come out with its new currency, the Libra.  It starts out with a 2-billion customer potential.  There’s no bank out there with a 2-billion customer potential and the brand recognition that Facebook has.  And it’s just a transaction. 

Another thing you’re seeing in this industry is a focus on the benefit of society as a whole.  There is a phrase at NJFX that we’ve embraced: “Socially Responsible Capitalism.”  We all want to make a return on our investments.  We want to make our investors feel good about their choices, but at the same time there is a greater good.  You can’t just do things to make a dollar and leave the environment a mess or destroy a generation.  Our industry is in a position to effect generations to come, depending on what part of the industry you’re in.  Think about some of the larger OTTs, how they can affect a generation.  There is a greater good involved here and I think we’re all starting to understand that we have a big role in all of this.

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

More In the News

Why operators and enterprises will need an AI data center strategy

Enterprises are prioritizing low-latency networks to ensure that their AI applications function at optimal efficiency and accuracy. This focus on reducing latency is about more than speed; it’s about creating a seamless, responsive experience for end-users and maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven market.

Read More »

The New Wave of SMART Cables

The Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Subsea Cables initiative seeks to revolutionize deep ocean observing by equipping transoceanic telecommunications cables with sensors to provide novel and persistent insights into the state of the ocean, at a modest incremental cost.

Read More »

There Is a Greater Good Involved Read More »

Tapping into the Nordic Region as the Next Frontier in Connectivity

Tapping into the Nordic Region as the Next Frontier in Connectivity

NJFX’S VP of Business Development Heads to Subsea EMEA in Marseille with Insight About the Nordic Gateway

Gil Santaliz

CEO

July 2, 2019

WALL TOWNSHIP, NJRoy Hilliard, VP of Business Development for NJFX, is bringing his expertise and thought leadership to Capacity’s Subsea EMEA conference in Marseille, France on July 8-10. The conference brings together 350+ commercial subsea experts for an industry touch-point to advance subsea cable investment in the EMEA region.

Mr. Hilliard will participate in the panel entitled “The Nordics – What is Fueling the Region’s Subsea Connectivity to Grow at a Rate of Knots?” He has unique insight to share, as NJFX was the conduit for bringing the Nordic Gateway to the U.S., the on-ramp solution into the Havfrue Cable System, stretching 7,200 kilometers from New Jersey to Ireland, Denmark and Norway. Bulk Infrastructure’s exclusive ownership of the Norwegian branch of the system unlocks one of the few genuinely sustainable solutions in the data center industry today. With this solution, the data center industry can utilize 100% pure emissions-free hydropower from the Nordic countries.

The project makes for perfect discussion on the panel, which will include topics such as:

  • New & diverse submarine fiber infrastructure projects in and around the Nordics 
  • How the region is benefitting from new international subsea cables landing in the North Atlantic How changes in taxation & regulation are helping to aid the favorable investment environment in the region 
  • How existing & new entrants in the data center space going to help optimize the new subsea networks in the North Atlantic

Mr. Hilliard has proven his thought leadership and expertise as a speaker for several high profile industry conferences this year, including ICPC in San Diego. There, he discussed the need for operational independence among firms in all verticals. “OTTs and content providers have cracked the code by switching the script and building custom infrastructure. This ownership affords the firms consistency, as well as independence. There are no reasons why other large enterprises that are dependent upon applications being available could not do the same,” comments Mr. Hilliard.

A key component of this growth will be a new model for cable landing stations. A cable landing station campus, with a fully integrated data center, can do what traditional carrier incumbents have been doing for decades, controlling their networks in a wholesale environment, with no backhaul required, low latency and better access to connectivity.

It is crucial to have clarity in global connectivity. In order to do that, there are now multiple terrestrial options to the CLS and then multiple subsea networks to route across oceans with diverse landings in the next continent. Clarity, operational independence and direct access to subsea capacity whether intercontinental or up and down the coast is the best option.

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

More In the News

Why operators and enterprises will need an AI data center strategy

Enterprises are prioritizing low-latency networks to ensure that their AI applications function at optimal efficiency and accuracy. This focus on reducing latency is about more than speed; it’s about creating a seamless, responsive experience for end-users and maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven market.

Read More »

The New Wave of SMART Cables

The Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Subsea Cables initiative seeks to revolutionize deep ocean observing by equipping transoceanic telecommunications cables with sensors to provide novel and persistent insights into the state of the ocean, at a modest incremental cost.

Read More »

Tapping into the Nordic Region as the Next Frontier in Connectivity Read More »

NJFX Enables True Diversity to LATAM Markets in Partnership with Neutrona Networks

NJFX Enables True Diversity to LATAM Markets in Partnership with Neutrona Networks

New Point of Presence Bypasses Miami and Offers Direct Route From NJ to South America

June 25, 2019

Wall Township, NJ – NJFX, the only Cable Landing Station (CLS) colocation campus in the U.S offering, Tier 3, carrier-neutral data center capabilities, announces a Point of Presence (PoP) at its facility by Neutrona Networks, a leading managed network service provider, bringing a greater experience of connectivity to Latin America (LATAM). With partners like Neutrona Networks, NJFX is quickly becoming the alternate LATAM hub. This PoP will further reinforce the idea of true diversity, by providing options that bypass the congested Florida region in route to LATAM.

“By being a part of the NJFX ecosystem, we are able to extend our connectivity solutions for Latin America, as well as the Caribbean,” comments Luciano Salata, president and co-founder of Neutrona Networks. “This is especially important for financial firms as well as enterprises who are looking for managed connectivity to public clouds and can easily leverage our SDN-ready network. We are proud to be a part of the innovative spirit NJFX has created by enabling real solutions and innovative approaches with its partners.”

“Neutrona Networks is a valuable partner for NJFX because they are the true leaders in the LATAM market. Using every available asset, including carrier networks and subsea cables, Neutrona has integrated a secure wide area network (WAN) for the region,” states Felix Seda, General Manager for NJFX. “The new PoP at NJFX reinforces the idea that true diversity is crucial in the era of Digital Transformation & Cloud Adoption. NJFX has established itself as that center hub to offer diversity to key partners like Neutrona Networks.”

Neutrona Networks is a Software Defined Digital Provider (SDDP) with 20 years of experience in the Americas’ region. Its network is built on top of every submarine cable system and terrestrial fiber rings in LATAM, monitored and managed by its own SDN solution. It has a direct presence in more than 15 countries, offering access to every city throughout LATAM region via its extensive network of interconnections with local ISPs and direct connectivity to the main Cloud Service Providers, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, IBM Cloud, among others.

NJFX’s CLS campus offers access to five subsea cable systems, including Havfrue/AEC2, which connects the US at the NJFX CLS to Northern Europe and the Seabras cable providing direct access to Brazil. In addition, through strategic partners such as Neutrona Networks, NJFX customers can access points of presence in 15 countries in Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

More In the News

Why operators and enterprises will need an AI data center strategy

Enterprises are prioritizing low-latency networks to ensure that their AI applications function at optimal efficiency and accuracy. This focus on reducing latency is about more than speed; it’s about creating a seamless, responsive experience for end-users and maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven market.

Read More »

The New Wave of SMART Cables

The Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Subsea Cables initiative seeks to revolutionize deep ocean observing by equipping transoceanic telecommunications cables with sensors to provide novel and persistent insights into the state of the ocean, at a modest incremental cost.

Read More »

NJFX Enables True Diversity to LATAM Markets in Partnership with Neutrona Networks Read More »

BULK INFRASTRUCTURE ANNOUNCES THE NORDIC GATEWAY 

BULK INFRASTRUCTURE ANNOUNCES THE NORDIC GATEWAY 

An enterprise on-ramp to the fiber network unlocking Nordic sustainable internet and cloud infrastructure

See the original Article at Bulk‘s website

June 24, 2019

Atlanta, GA – June 24, 2019Bulk Infrastructure AS, a leading provider of sustainable digital infrastructure in the Nordics, is pleased to announce the Nordic Gateway at the ITW (International Telecoms Week) in Georgia (US) this week.

  • “Bulk Infrastructure is committed to enable the great potential that the Nordic region has to offer as an attractive platform for cost efficient and sustainable digital services,” states Peder Naerboe, Owner and Chairman at Bulk Infrastructure AS.
  • Therefore, we introduce The Nordic Gateway, an on-ramp solution accessing fiber networks that unlocks the sustainable Nordic region´s natural resources.

The Nordic Gateway is the on-ramp solution into the Havfrue Cable System, stretching 7,200 kilometers from New Jersey to the Nordic countries of Denmark and Norway. With Bulk`s exclusive ownership to the Norwegian branch of the cable system, Bulk controls six routes in the system between the USA, Ireland, Denmark and Norway.

  • “We believe The Nordic Gateway unlocks one of the few genuinely sustainable solutions in the data center industry today. With this solution, the data center industry can utilize 100% pure emissions-free hydropower from the Nordic countries,” says Naerboe.

Bulk has chosen NJFX in Wall as the US on-ramp location for the Nordic Gateway.

  • “We recognize NJFX as a model for an evolved cable landing station, with both direct access to subsea systems and data center capabilities at the landing point,” says Naerboe.

The Havfrue cable system is the first to cross the North-Atlantic Ocean in more than two decades and will enable significant inter-regional capacity and connectivity between the U.S. and Europe.

  • The Nordic region is optimally geographically positioned. Here, we have short distances to key European markets, abundant renewable hydropower supply and the lowest electricity prices in Europe. In addition, the Nordics has one of the World´s highest levels of redundancy and resilience in the power grid. I believe all these things together, topped with political stability and low temperature are reasons why the Nordics is now chosen as a sustainable power hub.

The HAVRUE subsea cable system is expected to be fully operational in Q4 2019, while Bulk data center solutions are already in place proximate to the landing points in Norway and Denmark.

About Bulk Infrastructure AS

Bulk Infrastructure is a leading provider of sustainable digital infrastructure in the Nordics. Bulk is a privately-owned industrial investor, developer and operator of industrial real estate, data centers and dark fiber networks. Bulk believes in the value creation opportunity of enabling the digital society to be fully sustainable. Its ambition is to be the go-to provider for anyone that wants to leverage the Nordics for data processing requirements of the future, whether in Denmark, Sweden or Norway. Bulk’s track record of delivering high quality and cost-effective customer solutions with short “time to market” has made Bulk ranked #1 in the Nordics as a regional industrial real estate developer. Hence Bulk’s vision: Racing to bring sustainable infrastructure to a global audience.

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

More In the News

Why operators and enterprises will need an AI data center strategy

Enterprises are prioritizing low-latency networks to ensure that their AI applications function at optimal efficiency and accuracy. This focus on reducing latency is about more than speed; it’s about creating a seamless, responsive experience for end-users and maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven market.

Read More »

The New Wave of SMART Cables

The Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Subsea Cables initiative seeks to revolutionize deep ocean observing by equipping transoceanic telecommunications cables with sensors to provide novel and persistent insights into the state of the ocean, at a modest incremental cost.

Read More »

BULK INFRASTRUCTURE ANNOUNCES THE NORDIC GATEWAY  Read More »

NJFX Plays Ball for a Great Cause

NJFX Plays Ball for a Great Cause

Great day to bring out your inner child for a great cause

June 14, 2019

NJFX, the only Cable Landing Station (CLS) colocation campus in the U.S offering, Tier 3, carrier-neutral data center capabilities, participated in a wiffleball tournament with charity organization Angelwish today, Friday June 14th. Angelwish helps bring joy to children living with chronic illnesses by allowing individuals to grant holiday and birthday gifts online and guarantees that 100% of donations go directly to program services. The Hoboken Angelwish Wiffleball Classic, hosted by the organization, is an annual event that combines the spirit of competition with an excellent community-focused cause. Attendees included Verizon, Ciena, and last year’s champions, Nasdaq.

“NJFX takes great pride in being able to contribute to causes like Angelwish; we feel that giving back to the community that you live and work in is paramount. At NJFX, corporate social responsibility is something that is held to a great degree of importance,” comments Gil Santaliz, NJFX CEO.  “In addition to consciously participating in charities, fundraisers, and local events, we are transparent in our business practices. We think it all adds up to ensuring the company will remain in high regard with employees and the community alike.”

“An event like this a great opportunity to get out and network with other industry players,” adds Felix Seda, NJFX General Manager. “We also get the chance to contribute to our local families in need in a truly meaningful way. That makes the work that we do, feel worthwhile.”

To learn more about Angelwish, visit www.angelwish.org

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

More In the News

Why operators and enterprises will need an AI data center strategy

Enterprises are prioritizing low-latency networks to ensure that their AI applications function at optimal efficiency and accuracy. This focus on reducing latency is about more than speed; it’s about creating a seamless, responsive experience for end-users and maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven market.

Read More »

The New Wave of SMART Cables

The Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Subsea Cables initiative seeks to revolutionize deep ocean observing by equipping transoceanic telecommunications cables with sensors to provide novel and persistent insights into the state of the ocean, at a modest incremental cost.

Read More »

NJFX Plays Ball for a Great Cause Read More »

Lessons from the Sea: A look at ICPC 2019

Lessons from the Sea: A look at ICPC 2019

May 24, 2019

1. Roy, you recently spoke in San Diego at the ICPC Conference – how was your experience?

RH: It was a fantastic event overall. This year’s theme was: ‘Critical Infrastructure Across the Oceans – Protecting Submarine Cables and the Marine Environment’ and it couldn’t have been a better topic or a better time to meet up with industry leaders and experts. Global communications are dependent on subsea infrastructure and in this day and age, it’s becoming more critical than ever to ensure cables are resilient on every front – seabed, cable landing station level and even how they interconnect with terrestrial fiber backhaul networks. 

Being my first ICPC, I was amazed to see the many fronts that the organization is involved with to balance business needs, the environment and laws.  It is an impressive, extensive docket. 

2. What sector is driving for more transparency into all of that?

RH: It is not one sector, but rather all coming together to realize that clear connections are critical.  At NJFX, we have talked to a lot of enterprises, financial firms and carriers which are all being pushed to know the physical network pathways and continue to seek ways to ensure operational independence. Widespread outages have dominated the headlines over the past year and when you couple that with weather, government actions, and other events, the outages can affect millions across major corporations and financial institutions. The thought of diversity being delivered by having a couple of providers is just not enough.  It is more important than ever to peel back the layers and figure out what is causing these outages and ensure true resiliency.

3. So, what is causing the non-transparency?

RH: The lack of clarity has come from a variety of sources, but mainly through carrier consolidation wherein once diverse solutions are now migrated for synergies or cost savings.  In similar fashion the records, knowledge, and options are also lost in the transition or frankly leave with the personnel affected by the service provider mergers.

When you add in mobile expansion and the upcoming addition of 5G networks, the fiber routes will be even more challenged with more splices, additions, cross overs – you name it.

4. What is the best go-to model for firms?

RH: OTTs and content providers have cracked the code by switching the script and building custom infrastructure.  This ownership affords the firms consistency, as well as independence.    There are no reasons why other large enterprises that are dependent upon applications being available (hint that is everyone) could do the same.  Now, some may not launch subsea systems, but all can look towards dark fiber or even clear connections within neutral hubs as a way to gain more control.  That said, we do have a firm looking to launch a subsea system which I touched upon in my presentation to the ICPC plenary.

5. What observations did you make from the conference about the state of the subsea industry?

RH:  The subsea environment is strong with numerous projects underway around the globe.  There is an equally strong move to recycle old infrastructure, which is great to see.  Also, there is more and more data that the cables do not adversely affect the sea, especially when compared to pipelines or other similar systems. 

What was fascinating to me is the amount of information about the sea that is being developed.  We are mapping more portions of the ocean all the time, learning more about geological and biological changes.  The industry is becoming more and more an asset to other organizations and certainly an advocate for the sea’s health and well-being.

6. Were there any new announcements made at the conference that you can share? Give us the scoop!

RH:  Wind energy.  Lots of development on this front and the cables coming to shore face similar issues as the connectivity systems – especially to the U.S. east coast.  Although you may view the ocean as vast, there is increasing competition for the sea floor, especially when you consider added protected zones for fishing, conservation, etc.

7. Tell me more about your presentation. What did the audience zero in on the most?  What questions were asked?

RH:  I presented a case study for a new operating model that evolved from over a dozen high level conversations with large financial firms.  I started by sharing feedback on the frustration that is present with current service providers in terms of aiding enterprises to offer always available solutions – the congestion of networks, overlaps, points of failure, etc.  I then highlighted a solution that one firm is exploring which would be a coastal system connecting key cities along the east coast.  This project evolved from the mid-Atlantic to northeast being especially problematic when it comes to reliability.  As an example, the east coast per circuit number often has more problems than interconnections between cities throughout India. 

The audience was surprised to hear an enterprise looking to take on such a project. However, looking back folks felt the same about Google and Facebook when they entered the space.  What resonated most is the need for enterprises to have the same service levels as the content players.  It is certainly reasonable to have the same access to your bank account as you have to your high school friend’s pet update or whatever you are binge watching. 

7. Anything else you want to share?

RH: It was a content rich three days for sure.  There is a clear focus on balancing sustainability with commercialization.  The ICPC is taking leadership roles in education, planning, and governance.  I am excited to continue to participate with the organization and look forward to taking part in future meetings.

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

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Rethinking Status Quo – How to Achieve Operational IT Independence

Rethinking Status Quo – How to Achieve Operational IT Independence

May 7, 2019

Downtime is not an option for any organization. Enterprises and financials are faced unrelenting  pressure to ensure there is resiliency at every level. The threats are many and issues arise from an array of concerns including  aging infrastructure, rising sea levels and  weak areas within IT and data center infrastructure. Widespread outages have dominated deadlines  over the past year, because those outages often affect millions  across major corporations and financial institutions. In our highly innovative and high-tech times, it is surprising when an outage of this magnitude occurs, and even more so when that outage is not rectified for hours or even days.  To unpack all of these dynamics and shed some more light on it, our very own Roy Hilliard is heading to San Diego next week to speak at the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) 2019 Plenary Meeting. This year’s theme is: ‘Critical Infrastructure Across the Oceans – Protecting Submarine Cables and the Marine Environment.

The event will be held from 14-16 May 2019 and includes Roy’s session entitled, ‘Achieving Operational Independence: Rethinking Global Network Architecture & Ownership.’ In this session, Roy will emphasize the importance for financials and enterprises to take a deeper look at their underlying network and data center architecture in order to identify non-redundant components in traditional network architectures. For true operational network independence, this should start at the subsea cable level. According to TeleGeography, 99 percent of international data is transmitted by submarine cables.

Roy’s session will frame up the challenges faced, especially on the U.S. east coast as well as provide innovative solutions that are critical for the subsea industry to consider.

Key areas for discussion include:

●      Transition from existing infrastructures

●      Ensuring excellence in digital security – security is paramount

●      Consortium power struggles

●      Interconnectivity/Interoperability – clear and known pathways are key to ensure resiliency and redundancy

Stay tuned for Roy’s post-event write up, which will feature key insights from the conference!

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About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

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Read More »

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Socially Responsible Capitalism: Bridging the Gap Between Profit and Conscience

Socially Responsible Capitalism: Bridging the Gap Between Profit and Conscience

April 22, 2019

Capitalism has risen again as the dirtiest word in the American political landscape.  A lot has been made about the moral aspects of competitive free markets. Those who see capitalism as immoral say greed makes companies put profits over people. Others say capitalism is the only system that has the power to pull people out of poverty. While the idea of the greedy CEO is not a new one, it’s gaining even more traction as Americans begin to question the cost vs. benefit of a free market economy.  

To combat the appearance of the greedy corporation, businesses have put corporate responsibility in place – a system to donate funds to worthwhile causes. While that may seem to solve the issue, it’s sort of the easy way out. There must be a way to move beyond implementing a local community program or creating a company foundation. That level of corporate responsibility is not difficult to achieve but may not go far enough to relieve the perception that corporations only care about making as much profit as possible, despite the consequences.

There is a difference between corporate responsibility and conscious capitalism. The latter refers to a self-examination and self-awareness that asks, can we be mindful of our stakeholders and the public at the same time? This type of socially responsible capitalism means that we are looking out for everyone’s interests, while also running a profitable business. In this scenario customers, vendors, investors and employees all win. Too many companies use profitability as their underlying mission as opposed to creating balance and harmony between customers, vendors and investors. This harmony is the only way to stay in the game long term. Putting open door policies in place, where there is a willingness to listen to all parties, makes you what you are.

After selling highly successful 4Connections to Cablevision (now Altice) and settling into a comfortable retirement, NJFX founder Gil Santaliz served two terms on the Board of Morristown Memorial Hospital Foundation. He served as a Trustee for the Morristown-Beard School. But Santaliz felt there was more to do.  

When the idea for NJFX was first imagined, it was an effort to find an infrastructure solution for New Jersey. The number one goal was not “How much can NJFX profit from existing?” Santaliz spearheaded the effort to invest millions of dollars to develop a world class facility at the highest elevation possible to ensure North America would have network diversity. Part of this effort included committing to a carrier-neutral model to avoid monopolistic behavior which has traditionally been the norm with cable landing stations globally. This disruptive approach supports socially responsible capitalism by protecting carriers, enterprises and OTTs from landlords that don’t always have their tenants’ best interest in mind.

This was possible in part because NJFX partners already had their own successful, independent businesses before coming on board at NJFX. The opportunity to help the state of New Jersey and surrounding regions with connectivity was the overarching factor for those investors who chose to help finance the project. This investment was a solution to aging and lacking infrastructure for both New Jersey and the U.S. The investors recognized this gap and wanted to play a role in creating better, more viable telecommunications infrastructure. The investors live in the communities that they operate the businesses in. They are cognizant of both helping the community and being a productive member of the community.

The biggest concern is that the industry is under intense pressure for profitability. Some carriers face Wall Street pressure. If they don’t perform, the idea of socially responsible capitalism can go off the rails. But we need to be mindful as a nation to not let profit get in the way of long-term results. Unfortunately, there are companies that given the opportunity will price gouge in the telecom industry. They charge exorbitant prices because they can. We’ve witnessed it and frowned upon it. A company might charge a customer for a line in a contract that went unnoticed or change that was needed. We’ve seen it happen globally, but also here in the U.S.

While NJFX relies on developing a profitable business, it has not taken on any outside debt and made the decision to be here long-term and provide infrastructure in a sustainable way. NJFX recently hosted multinational banks for a summit. The bank leadership teams were appreciative of the effort because their financial customers are selling trust – and they cannot provide their service without having credible partners in place who take instilling trust seriously and deliver upon it. Financial institutions count on reliable partners who have fairness and equity as part of their core tenets.

This idea of profit plus conscience goes both ways. When we work with our contractors, we’ve kept a record of 99% satisfaction in those relationships. Construction is never an easy process and we balance getting a product we think we deserve and paying the contractor fairly. With our customers and partners, we provide opportunities for introductions to grow their business by leveraging our global relationships. We have transparency in how we operate and how our industry works. And finally, with our employees, we’ve created programs to allow them to grow personally. We intentionally put them in positions of exposure to foster growth.

In today’s market if you don’t provide balance between profit and the responsibility to vendors, employees and customers, it’s very difficult to grow your business long term. The idea of sustainability lies in one word: fairness. You can make money, and still be equitable and just in your business relationships and economic models.


About Gil Santaliz

NJFX CEO, Gil Santaliz, is a well-respected thought leader in the subsea industry. He recently earned a spot on Capacity Media’s coveted Power 100 list. His innovative approach to thinking outside traditional telecom ways of partnerships and network architecture, has led him to establish a unique offering that impacts global communications. As founder of a metro fiber network company called 4Connections LLC, Gil realized there was a lack of route diversity for carriers. New York was the hotspot for internet landing points. A single point of connection means a single point of failure, and Gil knew this was something that needed to be solved. Gil sold 4Connections to Cablevision, now owned by Altice. Santaliz’s knowledge of internet infrastructure and its limitations, led to NJFX. This year Santaliz was invited to join the Submarine Networks EMEA 2020 Advisory Board as well as the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) Advisory Board. Santaliz graduated from Cornell University in 1988, with a Bachelor of Science.

###

About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

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Read More »

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Socially Responsible Capitalism: Bridging the Gap Between Profit and Conscience Read More »

NJFX Founder & CEO Gil Santaliz to Offer Insight on Cloud Connectivity and the Data Center

NJFX Founder & CEO Gil Santaliz to Offer Insight on Cloud Connectivity and the Data Center

Gil Santaliz

CEO

April 18, 2019

Gil Santaliz, Founder and CEO of NJFX, is bringing his expertise to CAPRE’s Eighth Annual Greater New York Data Center & Cloud Infrastructure Summit set for April 18th in Times Square. The Summit features leading technology infrastructure executives, data center real estate experts and leaders in the hyperscale, colocation, edge and cloud areas.

Mr. Santaliz will participate on the panel entitled, “Cloud On-Ramps: Finding Data Centers with Connectivity to Major Cloud Providers”. Discussion will include the vitality of an on ramp, transparency in data center cloud applications, cloud consolidation and more.

Mr. Santaliz brings his thought leadership to the Summit on the heels of being recognized as part of Capacity Media’s Power 100, the first ever listing of 100 of the most influential men and women in the wholesale telecommunications industry. Capacity Media’s criteria for landing a spot on the coveted list included those known for being innovators, critical thinkers and agents of change who are continuously pushing the industry forward.

With his thought leadership on strengthening network resiliency, prioritizing network diversity and providing accessible connectivity with international subsea cable systems, Mr. Santaliz is on the forefront of a transparent solution for carriers and customers alike, in a neutral setting that is strategically positioned 64 feet above sea level in a Tier III, secure facility on the Jersey Shore.

As a preview to the expertise Mr. Santaliz will bring to the Summit, CAPRE Media conducted a Q&A that includes his thoughts on data center reiterations. “Data centers have gone through an evolution over last 15 years from proprietary, localized, close to enterprise, to a realization that shared data centers are economical, to now hyperscale options which don’t require any CapEx. You can just pay as you go,” states Mr. Santaliz.

To learn more about NJFX, visit www.njfx.net. To request a meeting with members of the NJFX leadership team at the Summit, please contact meetings@njfx.net.

###

About NJFX:

NJFX is a Tier 3 Carrier Neutral Cable Landing Station campus. Our colocation ecosystem has expanded to over 35 network operators offering flexibility, reliability, and security. Our Wall, NJ location provides direct access to multiple subsea cable systems giving our carriers diverse connectivity solutions and offers direct interconnection without recurring cross-connect fees.

More In the News

Why operators and enterprises will need an AI data center strategy

Enterprises are prioritizing low-latency networks to ensure that their AI applications function at optimal efficiency and accuracy. This focus on reducing latency is about more than speed; it’s about creating a seamless, responsive experience for end-users and maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven market.

Read More »

The New Wave of SMART Cables

The Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Subsea Cables initiative seeks to revolutionize deep ocean observing by equipping transoceanic telecommunications cables with sensors to provide novel and persistent insights into the state of the ocean, at a modest incremental cost.

Read More »

NJFX Founder & CEO Gil Santaliz to Offer Insight on Cloud Connectivity and the Data Center Read More »

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