MagazineDatacentres, increasingly powered by optical networking technology, are currently proliferating around the world. In large part this is due to the on-going rise of digital and online economies, and the increasingly connected and networked nature of modern life, writes John Williamson. Read the full story in our Autumn magazine
Guest BlogOptical transmission is like light, as you may know it. Light rays from the sun travel massive distances to reach us, and light bulbs perform a similar function but over much shorter distances. To send data down fibre optic cable, we use lasers to make light. We use different wavelengths (or colours) to be able […]
Technical FeaturesHistory has shown that adoption of optical transceiver/transponder solutions accelerates when implementable standardization and interoperability are established. Coherent optical technology, traditionally a closed-system technology with proprietary implementations, is evolving towards a similar path, which will help carriers and hyperscale data center network operators by ensuring multiple suppliers for their critical components. This article reviews recent […]
Applications and ResearchService provider Etisalat has worked with Huawei to complete the first trial of compact all-optical cross-connect (OXC) for the transport industry. The OXC in question – the Huawei OptiXtrans OSN 9800 P32C – is a large-capacity OXC device that can be used in the backbone or aggregation layer. Huawei reckons it meets the requirements for […]
News and BusinessPan-African service provider SEACOM has struck a connectivity deal with Raxio Uganda, Uganda’s first carrier-neutral, enterprise-grade data centre scheduled to launch in the first quarter 2020. Privately-owned SEACOM launched Africa’s first broadband submarine cable system along the continent’s Eastern and Southern coasts in 2009. SEACOM recently launched enterprise connectivity solutions in Uganda that […]
News and BusinessThe France-IX internet peering service provider has chosen Nokia for the renewal of its interconnection backbone. The Nokia 7750-SR-s IP router technology solution – chosen for “stability, high performance, flexibility and scalability” – will enable France-IX to provide its peering members with optimum connection capacity for both current and future needs, it said. Deployment of […]
News and BusinessColt Technology Services has widened its alliance with Microsoft, having been named as a launch partner for Microsoft Azure Peering Service, as well as joining the Azure Networking Managed Service Provider (MSP) Programme. Until Microsoft Azure Peering Service was launched, enterprises could connect to the cloud via the public internet or through dedicated connectivity provided […]
News and BusinessBankrupt Global Cloud Xchange (GCX) is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Subsea connectivity specialist GCX has adopted a “standalone Plan of Reorganisation”, instead of moving to a sale of the company. GCX, whose 68,000km network carries the data of telcos, enterprises and media firms, is owned by India’s Reliance Communications, which is also undergoing […]
News and BusinessAustria’s conova communications is using ADVA technology for secure, high-capacity transport between its data centres. The IT service provider has deployed the ADVA FSP 3000 open line system (OLS) with ConnectGuard Optical encryption, in response to what it says is “booming demand” from business customers for reliable and protected cloud services. The fully redundant infrastructure […]
Technologies and ProductsData interconnect vendor Inphi Corporation has announced it is sampling its new Canopus™ coherent Digital Signal Processor (DSP), which it claims is the industry’s first merchant 7nm coherent DSP. Canopus provides low power and high density QSFP-DD, OSFP and CFP2-DCO coherent pluggable modules for cloud and telecom customers. Inphi says Canopus makes high density IP […]
Technologies and ProductsInfinera has announced the availability of the Infinera EMXP-XH800, an X-haul-optimised packet optical switch purpose-built for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN). Part of Infinera’s XTM Series, the EMXP-XH800 is Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF)-compliant and is designed to help network operators cost-effectively deploy 5G and fibre deep applications. The EMXP-XH800 enables mobile operators and wholesale providers to cost-effectively […]
News and BusinessAT&T has activated its first 400-gigabit optical connection carrying live internet traffic across its network. The operator says the connection between Dallas and Atlanta is believed to be a first in the industry. This isn’t a proof of concept, says AT&T, but a significant upgrade to its production network, built on flexible, low-cost white box […]
News and BusinessIT Centre for Science, which operates the Finnish University and Research Network (FUNET), has deployed ADVA technology in response to soaring bandwidth demand. The new solution is now providing Finland’s universities and research facilities with reliable connectivity at speeds up to 200Gps. Built on the ADVA FSP 3000 open line system (OLS), the fully redundant […]
Applications and ResearchAn analysis by Princeton researchers has shown that a type of foam, long studied by scientists, is able to block particular wavelengths of light. This is acknowledged as a highly desirable property for next-generation information technology that uses light instead of electricity. The researchers, integrating expertise from materials science, chemistry and physics, conducted exhaustive computational […]
News and BusinessRomania’s Agency of Administration of the National Network for Education and Research (AARNIEC) has deployed Ciena Ethernet and optical systems to improve its in-country network capabilities and the connectivity between Bucharest and Vienna. This upgrade is designed to allow RoEduNet’s network to flexibly adapt and support advanced scientific research efforts and meet voracious bandwidth demands. Ciena’s […]