Verizon and Nokia Siemens Networks Set New Record for 100 Gbps Optical Transmission

Commercial Deployment of 100 Gbps Service Is One Step Closer as Result of Successful Field Trial

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- Verizon and Nokia Siemens Networks have taken a step closer to being able to transmit commercial traffic at a speed of 100 gigabits per second (Gbps). The two companies carried out a successful 100 Gbps transmission on a single wavelength for more than 1,040 kilometers over field fiber, setting a new distance record and demonstrating better performance than conventional transmission.

The field trial, conducted on optical fiber on the Verizon network in north Dallas, successfully proved that 100 Gbps signals can be simultaneously transported with 10 Gbps and 40 Gbps signals on the same system with superior results by using advanced optical techniques.

The Nokia Siemens hiT 7500 ultra-long-haul, dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing platform -- combined with multi-level modulation, polarization multiplexing and coherent detection -- allowed the signal to be carried over ultra-long distances at high-data rates with significantly better chromatic dispersion and polarization-mode-dispersion tolerances than conventional systems.

“As a leader in pursuit of 100 Gbps technology, Verizon’s goal is to drive optical networking to deliver greater capacities over longer distances to enhance the high performance and high bandwidth of our network,” said Mark Wegleitner, Verizon senior vice president for technology. “Whether it’s FiOS delivering HD channels and video on demand or business customers using database applications and online trading, we strive to provide the most advanced underlying network technology for our customers.”

The field trial also demonstrated that 100 Gbps traffic can be simultaneously transported with any mix of 10 Gbps and 40 Gbps on a typical 80-channel ULH DWDM system. As a result, current network configurations can support capacity upgrades to 100 Gbps per channel on existing routes over similar distances without modification to the physical network, providing quicker, cost-effective implementation.

Like Verizon’s previous 100 Gbps trial in late 2007, this field trial also carried the 100 Gbps signal on a single wavelength, demonstrating true 100 Gbps throughput in a serial configuration. In this field trial, the modulation technology enabled an even higher total system capacity of 8 terabits per second. A terabit is one trillion bits.

“This is another groundbreaking milestone for Nokia Siemens Networks and Verizon’s photonic networking expertise in shaping the development of a 100G commercial product,” said Bernd Schumacher, head of Nokia Siemens Networks’ IP Transport Business Unit. "This field trial was a logical next step to demonstrate that our optical-transport technology adds value to our customers’ core networks.

“Nokia Siemens Networks’ 100G transmission technology provides carriers the necessary capacity upgrade and the freedom to combine new offerings with already deployed services,” Schumacher said. “It offers them long-lasting, revenue-generating assets that are capable of sustaining the tremendous pressure from the explosive growth of bandwidth-demanding applications.”

The technical details of this field trial were presented Thursday (Sept. 25) in Brussels at the prestigious European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) by Verizon’s Glenn Wellbrock, director of backbone network design, as an invited paper from Verizon Communications, Nokia Siemens Networks, Siemens PSE DE GmbH & Co. KG, Technical University of Eindhoven, and the University of the Federal Armed Forces.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 69 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,600 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

About Nokia Siemens Networks
Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of communications services. The company provides a complete, well-balanced product portfolio of mobile and fixed network infrastructure solutions and addresses the growing demand for services with 20,000 service professionals worldwide. Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the largest telecommunications infrastructure companies with operations in 150 countries. The company is headquartered in Espoo, Finland. www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com