Alcatel-Lucent and Vodafone Spain said they have used the former’s 1830 Photonic Switch to reach aggregate data transport rates up to 400 Gbps on an existing fiber link between Madrid and Zaragoza (about 250 miles).
The trial demonstrates the ability of an existing optical network to carry data at up to 17.6 terabits-per-second (Tbps), which would represent a doubling of the current spectral efficiency in fiber, according to A-L.
The two companies said the trial was conducted on Vodafone Spain’s existing Dispersion Compensation Module network between Madrid and Zaragoza. The network carries a mix of 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, and 100 Gbps traffic streams.
Alcatel-Lucent’s trial solution is based on its 1830 Photonic Service Switch, designed to transport data simultaneously over multiple 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps network links.
Nikos Plevris, head of transmission & transport at Vodafone European Network Engineering, said “With this trial we have demonstrated that it is possible to cost-effectively increase network capacity and enhance the quality of broadband without disrupting traffic or extensively reengineering infrastructure”.
