SK Telecom builds out 40 Gbps network with built-in 100 Gbps path

SK Telecom, Korea's largest wireless operator, is expanding the capacity of its current network to 40 Gbps, a process that includes a foundation to transition to 100 Gbps.

Powering the new 40 Gbps network is Nokia Siemens Networks and its 100G-ready DWDM network transport equipment.

Under the terms of the contract, NSN will provide its hiT 7300 dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) platform to SK Telecom.

To get to 40 Gbps, however, SK does not have to totally abandon its existing DWDM systems. Because NSN's hiT 7300 system is based on the CP-QPSK modulation format, SK will be able to leverage its already installed DWDM network equipment to transition to 40G line rate.

For NSN, this win is certainly a big point for the struggling vendor that's seen its wireline fortunes challenged by not only traditional American and European-based rivals including Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), Ciena (Nasdaq: CIEN) and Ericsson, but also increasingly Chinese-based companies such as Huawei and ZTE.

For more:
- see the release

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