Shaw Communications and Alcatel-Lucent trial 400 Gbps on live network

Canadian cable MSO Shaw Communications (TSX:SJR.B and NYSE:SJR) and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) have collaborated on what they assert is the first successful field trial of 400-Gbps transmission technology over a live fiber-optic network in North America.

The two companies conducted the trial using a 400-km section of Shaw’s network between Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta that had been engineered for 100 Gbps (see "Shaw Communications adds 100G to fiber-optic network") via Alcatel-Lucent’s 1830 PSS with the 400G Photonic Service Engine (PSE). The trial demonstrated the ability of the network to support 17.6 Tbps of total capacity using Alcatel-Lucent’s 400-Gbps technology, the companies say.

“With the growing appetite for services and the proliferation over many different devices, including tablets and connected devices, we were looking for next-generation technologies to help us build a world-leading infrastructure capable of keeping up with broadband demands,” said Peter Bissonnette, president of Shaw Communications. “Alcatel-Lucent’s 400-Gbps technology enables us to continue our leadership within the telecommunications industry and reinforce our commitment to maintaining leading-edge high-speed Internet capability.”

Added Alex Giosa, president of Alcatel-Lucent Canada, “Shaw Communications is one of the first companies in the world to experience the capabilities of the 400G technology, enabling them to keep up with the increasing traffic demands being placed on their network. 400G will not only help operators like Shaw to handle larger levels of traffic faster, but the technologies higher efficiency will also help Shaw’s ongoing commitment to reducing energy consumption while also optimizing operating and network maintenance costs.”

This is Alcatel-Lucent’s second announced 400-Gbps field test. The company previously announced a trial with France Telecom/Orange (see "Orange, Alcatel-Lucent provide live 400G link to RENATER").

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