ZTE tests CE-band 96-wavelength OTN system with China Mobile
ZTE Corp. (0763.HK / 000063.SZ) says it has successfully completed tests of a commercial CE-band 96-wavelength Optical Transport Network (OTN) system that uses the “CE-band” with the Hubei Branch of China Mobile and the FOA network access test of China Mobile Group. The system is designed for transmission at rates of 100G and greater, particularly 200G.
The C-Band is the convention spectrum in which optical communications networks operate. Without resorting to subcarriers, conventional systems typically use a maximum of 80 wavelengths within the C-Band. Extending spectrum usage into the L-Band has been a common way to increase the number of wavelengths used (see "L-band vendors are ready to open another window" and "Windstream adds L-Band option to fiber network via Infinera C+L Solution"). As there isn’t a “CE-band,” it’s unclear if ZTE is pairing the C-Band with the E-Band or whether “CE” is an acronym for something like “C-Band Extended.”
Regardless, ZTE says that the Hubei Branch of China Mobile launched construction of a new provincial fiber-optic backbone in August 2018 using the CE-band 96-wavelength 200G system. The OTN system leverages electrical cross-connection as well as ROADM capabilities to enable flexible hybrid scheduling of optical and electrical layer services, ZTE says. The systems also support multiple routing channels and one-hop transmission on the optical layer to reduce network latency and improve mesh network services.
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Stephen Hardy
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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