CableLabs has published its first Point-to-Point Coherent Optics specifications, which are intended to increase capacity of the fiber access network by 10 times and to support 100 gigabits of data per wavelength. Coherent optics technology uses amplitude, phase, and polarization to increase fiber capacities to support bandwidth-intensive applications such as streaming video, video conferencing, file uploads and downloads, and future needs for technologies such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR).
"CableLabs' Point-to-Point Coherent Optics takes the existing fiber access network to hyper speed, boosting fiber capacity to meet the growing demand of broadband customers," said Phil McKinney, president and chief executive officer of CableLabs. "Over half a billion people rely on CableLabs technology every day, and this breakthrough not only increases the capacity of the existing fiber system by an order of magnitude, it opens up wavelength resources to improve network quality and reliability, enabling advancements in cellular and wireless services."
The specifications are intended to allow multiple system operators (MSOs) to leverage their existing fiber infrastructure to withstand the growth in capacity demands and services for residential and business subscribers while enabling new services in a cost-efficient way.
The Point-to-Point Coherent Optics specification effort was introduced last year, and the completed specifications are available at https://www.cablelabs.com/specs/.