ANALYSIS & OPINION: NEXT GENERATION NETWORKS ICE6 is available already


applications. It supports a range of solutions that meet specific space, power and operational requirements, from standalone pluggables for 400ZR single-span DCI applications, to extended-temperature, standards-based optical modules for access applications, to compact coherent optics with seamless photonic layer integration for certain metro/regional applications. WaveLogic 5 has seen Ciena’s investment


focus move towards key foundational technologies beyond digital signal processing (DSP), to include high-speed electro-optic components based on both silicon photonics and indium phosphide. Tis allows the company full control of the design of its coherent optical solutions. Te WaveLogic 5 range will be available


in the second half of the year. WL5e and WL5n technology will be offered across the company’s Converged Packet Optical and Packet Networking portolios, and will be made available for use in third-party equipment via Ciena’s Optical Microsystems portolio.


in the industry, what challenges our customers are facing, and how we can leverage some of these capabilities to provide some differentiated solutions for them.’ Te network consists of the Infinite Core, the


Infinite Edge and Cognitive Networking. Te Infinite Core addresses operator challenges in core networks, delivering optical performance from metro to subsea, including 600Gb/s per wavelength transmission, improved capacity- reach performance and flexible, scaleable soſtware defined capacity on demand with instant bandwidth. Building on these capabilities, the newly launched ICE6 is engineered to deliver up to 800Gb/s per wavelength and an expanded toolkit of advanced coherent technologies. Packaged in a cross-platorm digital coherent


module, ICE6 combines the company’s sixth- generation photonic integrated circuit (PIC) with its in-house 7nm FlexCoherent digital signal processor (DSP) technology. ICE6 is available already, with the FlexCoherent 6 DSP available in quarter three, and the complete optical engine available by the end of the year. Platorms powered by ICE6 are due to be commercially available in the second half of 2020. Featuring a second-generation probabilistic


constellation shaping engine, powered by 7nm technology and a comprehensive toolkit of advanced coherent technologies, ICE6 will deliver up to 45 per cent higher maximum capacity per fibre, streamlined operations and lowest total cost of ownership.


Assisting operators Dr Dave Welch, Infinera founder and chief innovation officer, said: ‘Similar to the launch of ICE4, ICE6 will transform the market by delivering cuting-edge technology, designed in- house, enabling network operators to respond


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to the insatiable demand for capacity quickly, while optimising costs.’ Andrew Schmit, directing analyst, optical


networking at Cignal AI, stated: 'Infinera has historically been a leader in photonic integration and at the forefront of developing solutions in-house, exemplified by high-volume shipments of multiple generations of coherent engines. ICE6 should demonstrate similar leadership, with levels of optical performance that deliver greater capacity and reach for network operators.' Ciena’s latest addition is the WaveLogic


range of technology products, which includes a single-wavelength 800G solution. Te new technology is delivered in two solutions: WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) and WaveLogic 5 Nano (WL5n). In WL5e, tunable bandwidth up to 800G provides what the company calls significant efficiency advantages over 600G solutions, allowing customers to take advantage of the pending introduction of 400G interfaces in the data centre. A range of form factors allows customers to choose the best option in meeting network architecture requirements for certain applications, based on specific space, power and operational requirements.


Efficient transport WL5e provides programmable capacity in 50G increments over a single-wavelength 800G solution, which means, according to Ciena, that it delivers 50 per cent more capacity per wavelength and up to 20 per cent higher spectral efficiency. It also enables an elegant evolution to emerging 400GbE-interface routers, with the ability to efficiently transport 400GbE client rates at any distance, from across the metro to across the ocean. WL5n addresses the market of footprint- optimised coherent solutions for 100 to 400G


Future planning Scot McFeely, senior vice president of global products and services at Ciena, said: ‘An important part of Ciena’s success has always been our ability to anticipate market trends and strategically invest and out-innovate the competition to solve our customers business problems. WaveLogic 5 is another example of that leadership ability at work, underpinned by the financial strength, global scale and superior engineering expertise that affords us the confidence in continuing to deliver as promised on our forward roadmap commitments.’ Andrew Schmit, directing analyst at Cignal AI,


said: ‘With the WaveLogic5 family, Ciena raises the bar once more for the optical networking market. WaveLogic5 incorporates aggressive vertical integration, coupled with a more open business strategy and a bold technical vision surpassing the goals of any of the earlier WaveLogic generations.’ Neil J McRae, chief architect at BT added:


‘With WaveLogic 5, Ciena continues to push the boundaries of coherent optics and create a solution that will help reduce cost per bit and speed up our ability to turn up services more efficiently. Tis is critical in today’s highly competitive


environment, driven by our customers’ relentless demand for greater connectivity and bandwidth-consuming services.’ While Huawei did not announce any new


coherent product launches, the company did hint that it will continue to invest in higher baud rate DSPs and coherent solutions. According to the OFC post-show report,


some of the equipment vendors and operators were somewhat sceptical about these solutions, in terms of high-volume applications, compared with standardised, commoditised 400ZR+ solutions. It stated that, given the massive investment and effort required, a substantial cost/bit reduction with these new 800Gb/s solutions will be the most important metric of success.n


Issue 24 n Summer 2019 n FiBRE SYSTEMS 13


Infinera


Credit: OFC


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