Infinera Corp of Sunnyvale, CA, USA, a vertically integrated manufacturer of digital optical network systems incorporating its own indium phosphide-based photonic integrated circuits (PICs), has announced the ability to double capacity on a key link in TeliaSonera International Carrier's (TSIC) North America terrestrial network using the world's first super-channel implementation of Soft Decision Forward Error Correction (SD-FEC), featured on the Infinera DTN-X platform. Infinera successfully completed this verification test on a production route in TSIC's North America network, and says that the SD-FEC capability is now generally available on the DTN-X platform.
SD-FEC is an advanced error detection and correction technology that enables transport networks to deliver error-free digital information at extremely high data rates and over very long distances, offering networks greater capacity and reach without the need to regenerate the signal en route, says the firm.
Infinera's DTN-X platform delivers the industry's only long haul FlexCoherent 500 Gigabit per second (Gb/s) super-channels based 500 Gb/s PICs and the FlexCoherent Processor. The DTN-X now offers SD-FEC, which is integrated into Infinera's third generation FlexCoherent Processor chip and combined with a world-record Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) compensation capability that is specifically engineered to optimize capacity and reach.
"As network operators face increasing capacity requirements, they continue to seek solutions at the optical layer that add features and services to increase reach and capacity for 100G and beyond," said Ron Kline, principal analyst, network infrastructure at Ovum. "Service providers are continuously looking to make better use of their network assets so an SD-FEC enabled 500G supper-channel that nearly doubles the reach of the current system will really resonate with large network operators."
Mattias Fridstr?m, head of technology at TSIC, said, "We operate one of the world's most extensive fiber backbones across North America and Europe including Russia. We operate networks in a variety of environments and conditions; Infinera has proved with us that SD-FEC can double the capacity of key routes on our network."
Infinera co-founder and president, Dr. David Welch added, "Earlier this year, we demonstrated our third generation FlexCoherent Processor, integrated with SD-FEC along with 500 Gb/s PICs, in a trial that doubled capacity on a submarine cable link from Hawaii to California. Today, we are pleased to announce that these benefits can also be delivered in a terrestrial environment and that the industry's first super-channel SD-FEC solution is now generally available."
