ECOC 2022: Keysight, Nokia Bell Labs, hit record 260 GBaud

Applications and Research

Keysight Technologies and Nokia Bell Labs have successfully tested a 260 GBaud ultra-high-speed optical signal transmission over 100 km of standard single-mode fibre (SSMF) at ECOC 2022, exceeding the previous record of 220 GBaud.

With the mutual goal of improving network performance and efficiency, Nokia Bell Labs and Keysight combined expertise with other research partners to create the record-breaking demonstration of 260 GBaud DP-QPSK coherent transmission over 100 km single mode Fibre.

The demonstration consisted of Keysight’s new 260 GSa/s arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) M8199B (pictured), which delivers more than 75 GHz bandwidth and a thin-film lithium niobate I/Q modulator with 110 GHz bandwidth. This enabled R&D of transmission systems to be operated with symbol rates up to 260 GBaud and achieve net bitrates greater than 2 Tbps in coherent optical communications.

“Keysight is honoured to work with Nokia Bell Labs on achieving 260 GBaud,” said Dr. Joachim Peerlings, vice president of Network and Data Centre Solutions at Keysight. “The continued proliferation of AI requires new levels of server and network performance that must scale computing resources within reasonable energy bounds. Higher data rates and new modulation formats will be among the enabling technologies for the industry.”

“We achieved this outstanding record of maximum symbol rate of 260 GBaud by leveraging enabling technologies and the expertise of several partners,” said Haïk Mardoyan, senior research scientist, Nokia Bell Labs. “This result is a first milestone to scale long haul data transport systems beyond 2 Tbps per wavelength. Improving the energy efficiency of transponders is a permanent challenge for the industry.”

For more information, visit www.keysight.com.