Ciena unveils 1.6Tb/s coherent optics platform

Marking a breakthrough in the development of coherent optics, Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) has announced the latest generation of its WaveLogic technology. Optimized for high-capacity transport required with next-generation routing data paths and associated wholesale services, Ciena says its WaveLogic 6 platform will support up to 1.6Tb/s single-carrier wavelengths for metro ROADM deployments, 800Gb/s over the longest links, and energy-efficient 800G pluggables across 1000km distances.

Scott McFeely, SVP, global products and services, Ciena, commented:

“The last few years have irreversibly changed our expectations of networks, showing the critical importance of enabling greater connectivity to help fuel our digital lifestyles. At the same time, we all need to do more to help the environment. As the pioneer in coherent optical technology, and the first to bring coherent 40G, 100G, 400G and 800G to the industry, we continue to set the standard in optical transport and push the limits of innovation by creating solutions that significantly reduce cost per bit, improve network performance, and drive energy efficiency.”

• As stated in a press release, WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e), Ciena’s "performance-optimized solution," integrates new coherent DSP innovations to provide the highest capacity over fiber, supporting 1.6Tb/s single-carrier wavelengths for metro ROADM networks, 800Gb/s across the longest links, and 15% improvement in spectral efficiency compared to the previous generation. WL6e also stands to deliver significant economic benefits, including a 50% reduction in space and power per bit compared to Ciena’s current 800G technology. As the first coherent optical solution operating at 200GBaud, WL6e will maximize coverage of 800Gb/s connectivity across networks, said the company.
• For its part, WaveLogic 6 Nano (WL6n), Ciena’s "footprint-optimized solution," powers 400G-800G coherent pluggables to drive cost, power, and space efficiencies in 400G long-haul and 800G metro/regional applications, as well as interoperable 800ZR DCI applications. With Ciena’s unique engineering innovations, WL6n also stands to deliver a "fit-for-purpose" 800LR design, bringing coherent technology inside the data center campus for the first time.

As service providers grapple with the dual challenge of satisfying unabating bandwidth demand and cutting energy use, the company says the WaveLogic 6 platform supports the capabilities and evolution paths needed to meet current and future network and business requirements.

Ciena in its statement notes that the company "has a long history in technology innovation designed to help service providers do more with less – less power, less space and less cost." Since its introduction in 2008, the company claims its WaveLogic platform has already delivered 20 times more capacity over fiber and more than 85% reduction in Watts/Gbps for customers.

Industry-first performance achievements in the sixth generation of WaveLogic are made possible through Ciena’s unique expertise in coherent DSP and high-bandwidth electro-optics, leveraging proprietary advanced 3nm silicon technology to set a new standard in optical innovation.

Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 will start to become available in the first half of 2024. WL6 will be supported across a range of Ciena’s optical and routing and switching platforms. WL6 will also be made available for use in third-party solutions.

INDUSTRY COMMENTS

“Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 technology has enabled Bell to offer 400GE services to its wide range of customers and provide them with the ability to move massive amounts of data to the cloud. Bell’s national network is WaveLogic 6 ready and we look forward to the service delivery efficiencies that come with 800 Gigabit per second connectivity.”

 -- Nicholas Payant, vice president operation services and core network, Bell Canada

“Network efficiency has been a big part of our DNA since we started designing our first data center facility in Oregon over a decade ago. At OFC 2021, we challenged the suppliers to deliver a 50% power/bit reduction and a doubling of bandwidth/channel in Gen 6 transponder by 2024/25. These advances are critical to support our future network expansions. Based on Ciena’s announcement today, it looks like they are on track to meet these targets with WaveLogic 6.”

-- Gaya Nagarajan, vice president of engineering, Meta

“Ciena’s strong history of innovation and ability to understand our business needs has been instrumental to our success. WaveLogic 6 pushes the envelope and will help us execute on our network evolution plans and climate change goals by providing the most reliable, energy efficient and fastest connections possible. With WL6e performance simulations showing 1Tb/s wavelength transmission across 12,000km links in our network, we are already looking forward to announcing another networking world first.”

-- Laurie Miller, president and CEO, Southern Cross

“Ciena ups the ante in the delivery of high-performance coherent solutions, using advanced technology and high bandwidth electro-optics, with WaveLogic 6, which is expected to be the first 1.6Tbps wavelength transmitted over a single carrier. We believe 1.6Tbps wavelengths will be a critical technology to enable operators to sustainably grow their networks as bandwidth demand continues to grow annually at 30%. Hence, we anticipate that in five years over 50% of capacity additions will come from DWDM systems built with sixth generation coherent DSPs.”

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