Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and NEC tested the ability to transmit 40.5 Tbps over a distance of 1,800 km and 54.2 Tbps over a regional distance of more than 630 km, using one of its existing fiber loops outside Dallas.
The higher speeds were achieved using tightly packed optical channels in both the C-band and the L-band of the fiber spectrum. Earlier field transmission trials used a single optical band.
This trial, which was conducted in late 2012, was presented as a post-deadline paper at the OFC/NFOEC Conference and Expo last month in Anaheim, Calif.
Last March, Verizon and NEC conducted a similar trial transmitting 21.7 Tbps over 1,503 km of standard single mode field fiber on the telco's network in the Dallas area.
A key point of these trials is that they are using existing fiber, a characteristic that's important to large carriers that want to save capital while gaining expanding network speeds to support the growth of consumer and business wireline and wireless traffic.
While this demonstration was largely experimental, Verizon said they allow them to "test the feasibility and related efficiencies of deploying up to 40 Tb/s for long haul distances and more than 50 Tb/s for regional distances."
For more:
- see the release
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