Lucent goes fiberless with DWDM

Beams of light sailing through the air now will be able to provide an optical networking system for Lucent Technologies' new WaveStar OpticAir system.

The system uses lasers, amplifiers and receivers that can be placed on rooftops or windows to beam voice, video or data traffic from point to point. The OpticAir system enlists dense wave division multiplexing technology to provide increased network capacity where fiber is limited, impractical or unavailable. But the OpticAir system is susceptible to some environmental conditions and must have a line of sight.

This is another major step in optical technology, said Harry Bosco, chief operating officer of Lucent's optical networking group. "Not only will it boost the capacity of local data networks, it also extends the reach of today's high-capacity fiber optic systems further to the desktop," he said.

The product will be capable of supporting one wavelength at speeds of 2.5 Gb/s when released in March 2000, but a four-wavelength system with a maximum capacity of 10 Gb/s will be available in the summer of 2000.

"There is clearly a market for this type of product," said Mathew Steinberg, director of optical networking for RHK. But entities such as financial institutions would not be likely to run heavy transactions across it, opting instead for fiber, Steinberg added.

Global Crossing will be the first to test the system in trials beginning in December. The system has a high-reliability factor, and it allows the carrier to connect customers in a shorter period of time, said a Global Crossing spokesman.