Mitsubishi Electric Announces Optical Transmission Technologies for Intercontinental Cable Systems
Announcement posted by Mitsubishi Electric Australia 07 Feb 2002
Advanced technology opens up new vistas for future optical networking
Mitsubishi Electric announced new optical transmission technologies for use in next-generation submarine cable systems that are planned to connect Japan, the U.S., Asia and Europe. The technologies, which are also ideally suited for use in metropolitan trunk networks in Japan, are due to be commercialized between the second quarter of 2002 and the start of 2003.
"We have made advances in three key technologies," said Takashi Mizuochi, head researcher at Mitsubishi Electric's Information Technology R&D Center, "the technology of transmitting massive light signals through a long-distance optical fiber, the technology of advanced optical device supporting systems and the integrated technology of optical networking. The recent advances are a major step in enabling deployment of low-cost high capacity data transmission cables."
WDM Technology
WDM technology merges 65 separate signals, each of 20 Gigabits/second, to transmit a total of 1.3 terabits/second. Experiments have succeeded in sending data over a distance of 8,400 km with a single optical fiber. This advance will allow high-capacity transoceanic data transmission for low costs.
Optical Devices
Three optical devices have been developed, a tunable dispersion compensator, an optical modulator/photo-diode system capable of operating at 40 Gbs/second, and a MEMS-based optical switch.
OXC Prototype
This new device complies with the global standard GMPLS (Generalized Multi-protocol Label Switching) protocol in delivering the protection functions to maintain highly reliable communications routes.
The new advances will use the GMPLS protocol to make possible on-demand, all-optical paths and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).
As the volume of Internet traffic increases dramatically, the construction of seamless optical networks is continuing apace. Enabling a single fiber to transmit large amounts of information over long distances will allow communications backbones to be constructed for low costs, while also accelerating the arrival of an era in which every household is connected to high-speed networks.
Optical devices are the key to smooth operation of these networks. An example is afforded by the type of device now urgently required to automatically compensate for the chromatic dispersion that occurs in optical fibers over long-distance transmissions. Other examples include optical modulators and receivers capable of handling 40 gigabits/second, and an optical switch incorporating MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology.
In order to cater to the widespread adoption of the IP (Internet Protocol), it is necessary to create a tailored, high-capacity, network infrastructure. It is in this respect that much is expected of OXC (optical cross connection) equipment. This node equipment sets up the communication paths to transmit signals in a wide range of data-formats. Communications companies aiming to create high-efficiency broadband networks are hoping that electronics companies will provide them with new options in this vital area.
The release of these technologies will bring forward the construction of long-distance, high-capacity networks transmitting information at speeds in the terabits-per-second range.
"We have made advances in three key technologies," said Takashi Mizuochi, head researcher at Mitsubishi Electric's Information Technology R&D Center, "the technology of transmitting massive light signals through a long-distance optical fiber, the technology of advanced optical device supporting systems and the integrated technology of optical networking. The recent advances are a major step in enabling deployment of low-cost high capacity data transmission cables."
WDM Technology
WDM technology merges 65 separate signals, each of 20 Gigabits/second, to transmit a total of 1.3 terabits/second. Experiments have succeeded in sending data over a distance of 8,400 km with a single optical fiber. This advance will allow high-capacity transoceanic data transmission for low costs.
Optical Devices
Three optical devices have been developed, a tunable dispersion compensator, an optical modulator/photo-diode system capable of operating at 40 Gbs/second, and a MEMS-based optical switch.
OXC Prototype
This new device complies with the global standard GMPLS (Generalized Multi-protocol Label Switching) protocol in delivering the protection functions to maintain highly reliable communications routes.
The new advances will use the GMPLS protocol to make possible on-demand, all-optical paths and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).
As the volume of Internet traffic increases dramatically, the construction of seamless optical networks is continuing apace. Enabling a single fiber to transmit large amounts of information over long distances will allow communications backbones to be constructed for low costs, while also accelerating the arrival of an era in which every household is connected to high-speed networks.
Optical devices are the key to smooth operation of these networks. An example is afforded by the type of device now urgently required to automatically compensate for the chromatic dispersion that occurs in optical fibers over long-distance transmissions. Other examples include optical modulators and receivers capable of handling 40 gigabits/second, and an optical switch incorporating MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology.
In order to cater to the widespread adoption of the IP (Internet Protocol), it is necessary to create a tailored, high-capacity, network infrastructure. It is in this respect that much is expected of OXC (optical cross connection) equipment. This node equipment sets up the communication paths to transmit signals in a wide range of data-formats. Communications companies aiming to create high-efficiency broadband networks are hoping that electronics companies will provide them with new options in this vital area.
The release of these technologies will bring forward the construction of long-distance, high-capacity networks transmitting information at speeds in the terabits-per-second range.