Telstra launches 40G on Next IP network between Melbourne and Sydney

MAY 17, 2010 -- In what the carrier touts as an Australian first, Telstra has quadrupled the capacity of its Next IP network between Melbourne and Sydney with the deployment of 40-Gbps capabilities. The 40G data rate will help meet growing demand that is doubling data traffic on the network every 19 months, Telstra says.

Telstra deployed the 40G upgrade using Ericsson’s Marconi MHL 3000 DWDM systems.

“The Telstra Next IP network is the backbone for all our networks and our customers, particularly our enterprise and government customers, who have come to rely on its speed and capacity to drive productivity gains within their organizations,” according to COO Michael Rocca. “This is the first of our intercapital routes to be upgraded and we expect to carry out similar upgrades to other major cities over the coming year.”

The capacity upgrade was delivered by augmenting the existing DWDM system and required no changes to the underlying infrastructure. The Marconi MHL 3000 platform is capable of delivering up to 80 channels at 40 Gbps per channel over a single fiber pair.

Rocca also reaffirmed plans for upgrades to the Next IP network beyond 40 Gbps. “When we announced this upgrade last July we said there was a path to 100 Gbps; this continues to be our direction,” Rocca said. “We have already successfully trialed Ericsson’s 100-Gbps technology within our model environment and proven that the existing network still has great potential to continue expanding according to demand.”