Verizon says it has successfully transmitted an 800-Gbps wavelength on its live network. The coherent transmission used technology from Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) and Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR). The service provider says it plans to roll out 800G capability in the second half of this year.
The demonstration saw a pair of Juniper Networks QFX 5220 packet platforms connected via Ciena Ciena 6500 platforms with the company’s WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) coherent optical engine. Together, the platforms enable Verizon to tune between 200 and 800G as requirements dictate.
“In the past, we needed to combine multiple wavelengths to achieve 800-Gbps capacity,” said Kevin N. Smith, vice president of technology and planning for Verizon. “Now, with the new optics configuration from Ciena and Juniper Networks on our fiber network, we are advancing our connecting layer of fiber to prepare for the explosion of data we know will come along with 5G’s transformational impact on industries and consumers. And being the only provider in the industry with that capacity on a single wavelength allows us to deliver the service at a much lower cost per bit.”
“800G is possible today with our WaveLogic 5 Extreme technology and this live network trial is remarkable because it shows the progression of capacity and efficiencies,” added Scott McFeely, senior vice president of global products and services for Ciena. “Programmable 200Gbps-800Gbps transmission will allow Verizon to effectively respond to fluctuating user demands by creating a more software-driven, programmable, and highly scalable network.”
“As network traffic continues to grow sharply, driven by video and other new 5G uses cases, it’s imperative for communications service providers and infrastructure vendors to work closely together for rapid innovation,” commented Sally Bament, vice president, cloud and service provider marketing at Juniper Networks. “New 400GbE packet routers and 800G coherent optical systems help drive down the cost per bit with improved scale and density. We’re excited to have played a role in this successful trial and look forward to help deliver new, high-bandwidth services to end-users.”
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