Prysmian, Nokia Bell Labs, NICT combine to push 1 Pbps via space-division multiplexing
Prysmian Group, Nokia Bell Labs, and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have transmitted 1 petabit per second (1 Pbps) across a fiber with standard dimensions. The experiment, described in an ECOC 2020 post-deadline paper, leveraged space-division multiplexing (SDM).
The demonstration saw the use of SDM to transmit 15 spatial modes via specific mode multiplexers. The single-core few-mode fiber used in the demonstration, provided by Prysmian, features standard cladding (125 µm) and coating (245 µm) diameters and is easily manufactured, according to the company. The petabit transmission rate exceeds the records for several fiber types with standard dimensions including single-mode fiber (by 5.7X), few-mode fiber (by 2.5X), and multi-core fiber (by 1.7X).
“Over the past decade, data traffic has increased by a factor of ~100. Fiber capacity has closely followed this exponential growth, thanks to the introduction of new technologies. Data traffic is expected to keep growing at a similar exponential rate during the next decade, notably due to development of social networks, video on demand, and mobile multimedia platforms. In this context, space-division multiplexing has been recognized as the unique multiplexing technology able to meet this capacity challenge,” commented Eric Stoltz, vice president of the Optical Fibre Business Unit at Prysmian Group.
SDM technology is starting to reach the field, principally in submarine networks (see, for example, “Google, SubCom, to deploy space-division multiplexing on Dunant submarine cable”).
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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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