Nokia Ultra-Wideband

Wavelength Routing solution

Increasing transport capacity in optical networks
Transport capacity challenges for optical networks
With the ever-increasing demand for high-speed data
services, carriers are faced with the ongoing need to
upgrade their networks to support higher transport
capacities. Optical networks that once operated at
10G per wavelength are rapidly being updated to 100G
or even 200G rates per wavelength. Even with these
impressive achievements in optical technology, carriers
are planning for additional capacity on their backbone
networks.
Due to certain physics limitations, fiber networks are
constrained by the number of individual wavelengths
that can be supported as well as the data rate of each
wavelength. Existing fiber optic networks operate in
whats known as the C-band, which typically supports
up to 96 channels. Once a carrier fills all 96 channels
of the C-band, they face the daunting and expensive
requirement to overbuild their entire optical route
on a new pair of fibers.
Many backbone providers lease fiber pairs instead of
physically owning the fiber cable. Overbuilding a network
on an additional pair of leased fibers can be prohibitively
expensive, especially on long-haul routes.

Increasing transport capacity

The traditional method for increasing fiber network
capacity has been to increase the number of channels
on a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system,
increase the data rate of each channel, or employ
a combination of both options. As shown in Figure1,
fiber optic systems have only a limited number of
parameters think of them as dials that can be
adjusted to affect the system capacity:
Increasing the per-channel bit rate
Using polarization modulation
Using advanced modulation types
Increasing the number of available channels

The first three parameters are associated with increasing

the per-wavelength data rate. Unfortunately, due to
fundamental physical limitations of optical transmission,
the industry is rapidly approaching the limits of each
of these parameters: the dials are all adjusted to their
maximum settings.
One option is to expand system capacity by operating
in spectrum beyond just the C-band.

Figure 1. Increasing transport capacity

Bit rate

2.5G > 10G > 100G > 200/250G > 400G

Polarization

Dual polarization

Modulation

QPSK > 8QAM > 16QAM > 64 QAM

Channels

32 > 44 > 88 > 96 > Flex spectrum

The ultra-wideband solution

The C-band (1530 nm to 1565 nm) of
optical frequencies has traditionally
been used for WDM fiber optic
systems due to the combination
of low fiber loss and availability
of efficient, cost-effective erbium
doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) in
this band. The C-band supports
up to 96 channels with standard,
50-GHz spacing for each channel.
One option for additional capacity
is to use flexible grid WDM systems,
which enable flexible channels sizes
as small as 37.5 GHz. The smaller
channel size provides up to 120
channels in the C-band, but with
some trade-offs. As the channel
spacing is decreased, the optical
reach is also reduced, resulting in
a better fit for the smaller sized
channels on metro networks than
on long-haul routes.
An alternative approach that
provides additional capacity at all
optical reaches is the use of L-band
(1565 nm to 1625 nm) optical
frequencies. The L-band shares many
characteristics with the C-band,
including low fiber loss and availability
of EDFA technology for amplification.
With the introduction of the UltraWideband Wavelength Routing
solution, Nokia doubles available
network capacity on the same fiber
pair. The Ultra-Wideband Wavelength
Routing solution enables use of
both the traditional C-band as well
as the L-band of optical frequencies,
providing up to 192 channels.

Wavelength
routing benefits
Simplified network planning
Reduced operational costs
through elimination
of manual reconfigurations
Faster service turn-up
and delivery
Enables use of hot standby
optical transponders for
improved reliability
More advanced and efficient
1:n optical layer protection/
restoration options

With a CDC-F wavelength routing

architecture (see Figure 2), optical
transponders can be connected
to any physical port, software
provisioned to operate at any
wavelength, and optically routed
over any WDM network degree.

Figure 2. Ultra-Wideband Wavelength Routing architecture

Amp

Amp

Amp

Amp

WTOCM-F
WTOCM-FL

Twin 1x20

Twin 1x20

Fiber shuffle

Fiber shuffle

Amp array

Amp array

Twin 1x20

8x16 MCS

8x16 MCS

Twin 1x20

C-band units

L-band units

Trpn

Trpn

Trpn

Trpn

Trpn

Trpn

Trpn

Trpn

Carriers can deploy C-band

transponders to meet their initial
requirements, adding L-band
capacity as needed in the future.
No changes or upgrades are
required to the core reconfigurable
optical add drop multiplexer
(ROADM) or in-line amplifier (ILA)
nodes, reducing operational costs
and eliminating network disruptions.
When additional L-band capacity
is required, carriers simply deploy
the L-band-specific drop modules
and transponders where needed.

Solution architecture
The Nokia Ultra-Wideband
Wavelength Routing architecture
provides up to 192 channels
over the C+L bands along
with colorless, directionless,
contentionless, and flexible grid
(CDC-F) functionality. Wavelength
routing improves overall network
flexibility, reduces operational costs
and enables new, more efficient
optical restoration options.

Note: 2D configuration shown

The WDM line system, consisting of the ingress amps (pre-amps) and egress
amps (post-amps) and ILA nodes, is ultra-wideband- (C+L) capable from
the initial deployment. No further changes or updates to the line system
are required in the future, eliminating the operational costs of having to reengineer nodes on the line system when adding additional L-band capacity.
Initially, carriers can simply deploy the C-band units and capacity as needed
at each drop location. When additional L-band capacity is required, only
the L-band drop units (CDC-F modules) and additional optical transponders
need to be added.
Maximize optical transport capacity
Carrier backbone networks are under siege by ever-increasing demands
for high-speed data service, resulting in larger and larger capacity needs
on these fiber networks. Until recently, WDM systems have met the capacity
challenge by increasing the per-wavelength data rate, number of channels
and modulation types. However, these parameters are quickly reaching
the theoretical limits.
Additional capacity can always be added by deploying overlay networks on
additional fiber pairs, but this can be very expensive and highly disruptive to
network operations. In addition, many backbone providers lease their optical
fibers instead of owning the fiber cable, so overlay networks require the
additional cost of another fiber pair, which can be prohibitively expensive
on long-haul routes.
The Nokia Ultra-Wideband Wavelength Routing solution provides double
the capacity of existing systems, while enabling key flexibility and
operational benefits.
Maximize optical transport capacity with the Nokia Ultra-Wideband
Wavelength Routing solution.

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Product code: PR1603018580EN
Nokia 2016

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about Nokia
optical networking
solutions, visit
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