Saudi Telecom Co. (STC) has selected metro WDM products from Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. for its next-generation metro WDM networks in Saudi Arabia. Huawei says STC will be the first operator in the Middle East to deploy metro WDM equipment based on its photonic integrated device (PID) technology.

PID technology greatly simplifies the WDM architecture by integrating multiple key photonic components of the WDM system, such as lasers, modulators, detectors, multiplexers and demultiplexers, into a 5-cm PID chip, the company claims. Compared to a traditional WDM network, a PID-enabled WDM network can save up to 50% on space and power and have 90% fewer fiber connections. In addition, due to its simple design and structure, PID technology makes it easier to deploy and maintain next-generation metro WDM networks.

As the biggest operator in the Middle East, STC has developed IPTV and mobile broadband services in recent years, rapidly expanding the growth of metro network services in Saudi Arabia. Against this backdrop, STC is now facing an urgent demand to construct high-bandwidth metro networks.

"The PID technology helps us construct advanced metro WDM networks, provide multi-granularity services quickly and easily, and serve our customers more agilely," said Eng. Khaled I. Al-Dharrab, transport network director of STC.

Huawei says it has successfully applied its PID technology around the world, including in Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Commonwealth of the Independent States. In addition, it acquired UK photonic integration specialist the Center for Integrated Photonics (CIP) in January (see “Huawei bolsters R&D with acquisition of CIP Technologies”).

According to consultancy firm Ovum, Huawei ranked No. 1 in the global optical network market and the WDM/OTN market in Q4 2011.

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