Nortel launches high-speed optical equipment line

Nortel Networks announced today it would introduce a next-generation optical solution consisting of switches, lasers, and software that achieves network speeds between 40 and 80 Gb/s, compared with the 10 Gb/s speed currently being offered by the company. The line is being showcased at the Optical Fiber Conference 2001, which begins today in Anaheim, Calif.

Nortel said the new technology would allow more than 5,000 Gigabit Ethernet connections to travel over a single fiber pair simultaneously – the equivalent of one million DVD movies streamed in real time via the Internet.

Moreover, the increased speed is expected to result in cost savings, as the need for expensive optical signal regenerations is eliminated.

“Nortel Networks strategy to offer service providers a 40/80 Gb/s end-to-end network solution will significantly help service providers manage capacity cost effectively,” said RHK optical networking analyst Brian Van Steen in a statement.

The new equipment includes a long-haul optical line system that integrates a 40 and 80 Gb/s platform and an optical switch that provides scalability and is the first switch to support 40 Gb/s.

Nortel said the new line system would support data transfers of up to 160 wavelengths at 40 Gb/s, spanning distances of more than 620 miles. It will be tested the second half of this year and will be available to customers in early 2002.

The multi-terabit optical switch is capable of handling 3.84 to 40 terabits of switching capacity. Nortel said it would undergo trials this summer and be ready for volume deployment sometime during the second half of 2001.