Verizon transported 1.2 terabytes per second of data across a single wavelength on its live metro fiber network
Verizon said its commercial fiber network trials in metro Long Island, NY successfully demonstrated increased speed, increased reliability and increased overall capacity for its fiber network. Working with Cisco, Verizon said it carried 1.2 Tbps of data using a single wavelength over longer distances through more nodes by upgrading the optical to electrical conversion cards that manage the flow of customer data through fiber optic cables.
The trial used Cisco’s NCS 1014 transceiver shelf and Acacia’s Coherent Interconnect Module 8 (CIM 8) and was conducted over Verizon’s live production network. A 1.0 Tb/s single wavelength was transmitted over the Cisco NCS 2000 line system over 205km traversing 14 fiber central offices. “In metropolitan networks, the number of central offices traversed is a key performance metric due to the progressive filtering and signal-to-noise ratio degradation as the wavelength passes through each office,” Verizon commented.
“We have bet big on fiber,” stated Adam Koeppe, SVP of technology planning at Verizon, in a press release. “Not only does it provide an award-winning broadband experience for consumers and enterprises, it also serves as the backbone of our wireless network. As we continue to see customers using more data in more varied ways, it is critical we continue to stay ahead of our customers’ demands by using the resources we have most efficiently.”
It’s true that Verizon has invested heavily its fiber networks, accelerating its build plan in recent years and deploying nearly 57,000 fiber miles since 2020. According to the carrier, it now connects more 51% of its cell sites with its own fiber. Last year, Verizon began work to increase the capacity of its fiber network by upgrading older router equipment with new equipment, capable of utilizing the latest 400 Gbps-per-port optical technology, reportedly allowing it to eventually manage 115 Tbps of data. Verizon also recently announced it is expanding high-speed internet in several states including Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The new optics technology from Cisco also reduces the need for regeneration of the light signal along the path by compensating for the degradation of the light signal traveling through the fiber cable, which the companies said increases reliability and reduces operating costs. “This trial demonstrates our commitment to continuous innovation aimed at increasing wavelength capacity and reducing costs.” said Bill Gartner, SVP/GM of Cisco Optical Systems and Optics. “The Verizon infrastructure built with the Cisco NCS 2000 open line system supports multiple generations of optics thus protecting investments as technology evolves.”
