Verizon (NYSE:VZ) says it has completed a successful field trial delivering live 400 Gbps Ethernet traffic on a single wavelength between MPLS core routers over its packet-optical network. The trial also tested the interoperability of equipment from Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR) and Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) and the capability to quadruple the typical capacity carried on a wavelength.
The trial was held in December using the Verizon network in the Dallas area. Test traffic was transmitted between two Juniper Networks PTX 5000 routers across the Ciena 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, both used in Verizon's production network. The 400 Gbps interworking connection is designed to be compliant with IEEE Standard 802.3bs-2017, which was ratified in December.
"We're delivering more content and capacity than ever from our network, and we're gearing up to do more," said Lee Hicks, vice president, Network Planning, for Verizon. "The appetite from consumers and businesses alike continues to grow. This 400G trial demonstrates our relentless focus on building networks people want and need. We're building the future now."
"This is an exciting time in our industry as live 400G trials and deployments are ramping up, proving that future networks will adapt to handle the next wave of high-speed applications and services," said Steve Alexander, chief technology officer for Ciena. "This trial leveraged WaveLogic Ai - the latest generation of Ciena's coherent optical technology, which can give Verizon greater competitive advantage and ensure its network will meet growing customer bandwidth demands."
"As network traffic continues to grow at an accelerated rate and 5G proliferates, communications carriers and equipment providers must not only work together but also be agile, quickly leveraging new standards and technologies as they become available to rapidly innovate and expand the capability of core networks, said Sally Bament, vice president, Service Provider Marketing, for Juniper Networks. "We're excited to have played a key role in enabling a successful 400 Gbps trial that will pave the way for future high-bandwidth applications and services."