Xtera adds repeater to submarine fiber-optic cable network line

Xtera Communications, Inc. has used this week’s SubOptic show in London to unveil a modular optical repeater for submarine fiber-optic networks. When combined with Xtera’s other undersea fiber cable offerings, the repeater now enables Xtera to offer a full turnkey suite of active optical transmission products for next-generation applications.

The modular design of the optical block enables the repeaters to be tailored to the fiber-optic cable network’s requirements. In particular, variants will cover short regional systems and transoceanic systems as well as applications which require bandwidth beyond the normal EDFA C-Band. In addition, high-efficiency drivers enable tuning of the line current to near optimum, which reduces overall voltage, Xtera says.

The repeater is constructed from marine-grade titanium, which Xtera says makes it light and strong; it can be deployed to water depths of 8 km, according to the company. It also is small enough to pass directly through a plough during burial operations, which makes it easier to handle during laying and assembling, the company adds.

Xtera says it has collaborated with “recognized industrial partners and highly experienced purchasers of submarine systems,” on the system design and qualification. One of the partners provides a formal auditing of the process, the company adds.

“With this modular product Xtera can better optimize the design of subsea cable systems and address the need for higher capacity per fiber with wider optical bandwidth,” said Stuart Barnes, CTO, submarine systems of Xtera. “We had the advantage of not having to evolve an existing design and have been able to find modern solutions to old problems, for example improving electrical to optical power conversion. The new repeater adds nicely to Xtera’s turnkey solutions for building new subsea cable systems or upgrading the wet plant of existing systems.”

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