As part of a comprehensive display of its end-to-end system portfolio, Optisphere Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc., will demonstrate its 40 Gbit/s long-haul DWDM product at SuperComm in Atlanta, June 5-7.
One of Optisphere's flagship products, the long-haul dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system is designed for increased bandwidth and cost efficiency on an open platform. It is a flexible, modular DWDM platform allowing for terabit transmission with the same amplifier platform using technologies such as Raman amplification, enhanced link control and optical add-drop multiplexing. The latest release of the product can transmit up to 160 wavelengths at 10 Gbit/s. The next release of Optisphere's long-haul system will transport 80 wavelengths at 40 Gbit/s.
Optisphere products serve the long haul and metro transport, optical routing and multiservice bandwidth aggregation markets. The company will feature the products in demonstrations and presentations at the Siemens booth (No. 3816 in Hall D) at the Georgia World Congress Center during Supercomm.
Optisphere will demonstrate its 10 Gbit/s metro DWDM product, which features a transparent channel that is protocol- and bit-rate independent. The transparent interface interoperates with any protocol (e.g., ATM, IP, SONET, ESCON and Gigabit Ethernet). Using built-in transponders with 3R regeneration, the system handles bit rates ranging from 51 Mbit/s to 10 Gbit/s per wavelength. Modular in design, the system can support up to 64 wavelengths in ring and point-to-point configurations with add/drop applications. It provides optical protection, which can be extended to the customer premises. The metro DWDM product is a versatile, cost-effective solution and offers enhancements in space and power consumption.
Optisphere also will participate in the Optical Internetworking Forum's interoperability demonstration at Supercomm. The company earlier demonstrated the interoperability of its optical cross-connect (OXC) system with the forum's UNI (User Network Interface) 1.0. An international standard, the UNI V1.0 allows client devices such as IP routers to use optical network resources and to establish clear optical circuit connections. According to the forum, the demonstration is a multi-vendor, multi-technology test and a true example of optical internetworking. Optisphere's OXC system uses optical mirrors based on the micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) silicon technology to carry out switching functions with thousands of ports.
Optisphere complements its OXC system with the Managed Optical Distribution Frame (MODIF), part of the company's optical service node concept. MODIF can solve one of the most common industry problems -- patch-panel chaos. It combines the functionality of a traditional fiber distribution panel with the intelligence of a network management system. The management capability helps to reduce the chance for error and enables a carrier to turn up new circuits faster, dynamically track network modifications and trouble-shoot circuit outages. MODIF manages optical cross-connections between up to 2,160 bi-directional optical points without blocking, and offers the ability to migrate to a MEMS-based OXC.
Optisphere will present a simulator for its network management system, TNMS, an integrated solution that allows service providers to seamlessly integrate functionality in the element and network layers. The network management center features a CORBA-based interface to manage multi-vendor networks.
In 40-gigabit technology, during a field trial in March, Optisphere and WorldCom deployed 80 wavelengths of 40 gigabits per wavelength for a total capacity of 3.2 Tbit/s - a worldwide first. The signals were transmitted over three spans of standard single mode fiber with a total link length of 250 km.
Research and development at Optisphere and Siemens promises even larger capacity increases in the future. Researchers demonstrated 7 Terabits per second of capacity over a single fiber in their Munich laboratories last fall.
Optisphere's TransPlan, a network design tool, complements its long-haul DWDM product line. The PC-based planning tool will serve a critical need in the design of next-generation 40 Gbit/s networks. It features a graphical user interface that simplifies network design, engineering and cost analysis. After data is input into TransPlan, customers can test various network configurations and select a plan that optimizes the long-haul system in their network.
About Optisphere and Siemens
Optisphere Networks Inc. develops and markets innovative systems for the optical networks market. Optisphere provides optical terabit solutions for IP-optimized transport, routing and bandwidth aggregation functions. For more information, visit www.optisphere.com.