Arelion has proven its ability to transmit 1.6 Tbps wavelengths in a live network field trial.
Leveraging Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e), this test occurred on Arelion’s 470km route between its existing PoPs in Ashburn, Virginia (Equinix) and Telxius’ (Telxius-CLS) Virginia Beach cable landing station, increasing capacity between two critical locations in Arelion’s North American network.
But the carrier sees implications that extend beyond the trial.
Arelion will deploy WL6e across its network to increase its ability to serve the surging bandwidth demands of 5G, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) applications, cloud services, content delivery and more for wholesale and enterprise customers.
Focus on efficiency
Arelion’s early investments in open optical networking and next-generation coherent optic solutions are focused on improving performance, achieving energy efficiency, and saving costs.
By leveraging coherent digital signal processing (DSP) innovations, Ciena claims its WL6e will improve energy efficiency and performance, providing Arelion with a 50% space and power per bit reduction and 15% higher spectral efficiency than previous generations.
WL6e will enable Arelion to deliver multiple 400 / 800 Gbps services optimized using 1.6 Tbps line capacity, supporting higher traffic volumes and faster connectivity across its existing network footprint.
The trial also used Ciena’s open, programmable 6500 Reconfigurable Line System (RLS), a solution designed to simplify and automate network service provisioning and reconfiguration.
“This new benchmark reflects our ongoing investment in cutting-edge optical networking technologies that increase capacity and performance while reducing energy consumption to benefit our customers,” said Dariusz Solowiej, VP of network technology and customer operations at Arelion.
Enhancing service capabilities
This trial will serve to give Arelion a way to enhance its ability deliver its suite of optical transmission services, including high-speed Managed Optical Fiber Services and Wavelengths for service providers, content providers and enterprises.
Ciena’s WL6e is a high-bandwidth coherent transceiver using 3nm silicon technology to drive what it claims to be economic benefits for operators, including a 50% reduction in space and power per bit.
Arelion’s trial with Ciena comes as the provider expands its network presence in the U.S., Europe and other locations.
Since the end of 2023, the service provider has established connections at critical locations in New York City, Lisbon, Florida, Missouri and other locations.
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About the Author
Sean BuckleySean Buckley
Sean is the Editor-in-Chief of Lightwave. He establishes and executes Lightwave's editorial strategy across its website, email newsletters, events, and other information products. Before coming to Lightwave in July 2023, he served as editor of Broadband Communities. Earlier, he served as senior editor of FierceTelecom and the editor of the former Telecommunications Magazine. He got his start in the optical industry in 1998 when he became the editor of enterprise and optical networks at Information Gatekeepers. He has a BA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and lives in Dracut, Mass, with his wife, two sons, and his cat, Dove.
