The companies used 61.5GHz spectrum as part of the trial, which they claim to be the highest demonstration of spectral efficiency per fibre pair ever achieved in a live environment.
The trial saw the deployment of software programmable 400Gbps wavelenths uing Ciena’s WaveLogic AI modem technology on the 6500 Packet-Optical Platform. This was combined with Ciena’s Blue Planet Manage Control Plan and Liquid Spectrum Applications.
Steve Alexander, Ciena’s chief technology officer, said: “As high-bandwidth applications become further ingrained in our daily lives, the implementation of a more intelligent and adaptive network – one that lets operators eliminate complexity by combining intelligent automation, real-time performance monitoring, and the ability to continuously tune their network – is critical. These accomplishments will prepare Telstra’s network to better respond to customer demands.”
The technology will enable up to 30.4Tbps per fibre pair – the equivalent of 1.2 million 4K Ultra HD video being streamed at once – beating the previous record of 25.6Tbps.
Telstra said it will now utilise the technology as part of an upgrade across it long-haul, metro and regional optical network in order to boost capacity, resiliency and programmable capabilities.
David Robertson, Director of IP and Transport Engineering at Telstra, says: “Over the next five years we forecast traffic on our network will grow by five times. We are investing in our network and developing these innovations to meet this growing demand by providing unprecedented levels of scale, automation and intelligence.
“This technology will be deployed in our domestic transmission network and we will look for opportunities to use it in Telstra’s international subsea cable network, which is the largest in the Asia-Pacific region.”
