The network upgrade is the continuation of a longstanding relationship between both companies and provides TalkTalk with a 20-fold capacity increase to its existing solution, while addressing the increasing challenge of reducing space and power across its estate.
TalkTalk selected the XTM II for the operational simplicity and reliability of Infinera’s solutions. The XTM II packet-optical platform provides TalkTalk an easy-to-use, low-latency, compact, low-power and scalable platform, delivering future capacity needs for its 4.1 million UK subscribers.
“With Infinera solutions deployed in our network for the past decade, we appreciate the operational simplicity and reliability of the platforms,” said Gary Steen, MD for technology, security & change at TalkTalk (pictured left).
“The introduction of Infinera’s XTM II provides a solution that exceeded expectations, providing us with a robust and scalable network while enabling the capacity increase we need to expand our services to meet customer demands.”
TalkTalk operates several dark fibre metro aggregation networks across the UK, these provide efficient aggregation points for TalkTalk where traditionally 10Gbps dense wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technologies have met demand.
As network traffic continues to increase, “10Gbps technology is no longer sufficient,” TalkTalk said. With the XTM II platform, TalkTalk can activate 100Gbps and 200Gbps wavelengths as demand requires. This increases network capacity from the previous 400Gbps to 8Tbps on initial deployment and is upgradeable to 16Tbps in the future.
“We are delighted to enhance TalkTalk’s network with this upgrade and offer its customers reliable, dedicated capacity,” added Nick Walden, EMEA senior vice president at Infinera (pictured right). “TalkTalk’s uptake of the XTM II underscores the ease of integrating the XTM Series into an existing Infinera infrastructure, including the Digital Network Administrator software management system, seamlessly.”
The news comes a week after Infinera completed its acquisition of Coriant, making it one of the largest vertically integrated optical network equipment providers in the world.
