Nokia Bell Labs sets new world records in optical data transfer
Nokia Bell Labs set two new world records in data speed transfer records in submarine optical communications. The first record achieved a net data rate of 800 Gbps on a single optical wavelength at a distance of 7865 km, which is the distance between Tokyo and Seattle. The second record was achieved by both Nokia Bell Labs and Alcatel Submarine Networks. These two divisions of Nokia managed to achieve a net throughput of 41 Tbps over 291 km via a C-band unrepeated transmission system. The previous record for such systems was 35 Tbps over the same distance.
Both records were achieved in its optical research testbed in Paris-Saclay, France. Nokia demonstrated the next generation of optical networking equipment at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The key to these records lies in creating lasers that blink faster. Nokia innovated in technologies that achieve higher baud rates. Essentially, “Baud” is the number of times per second that an optical laser switches on and off, or “blinks.” Higher baud rates mean higher data throughput and will allow future optical systems to transmit the same capacities per wavelength over much greater distances.
The research behind these two records will have a significant impact on the next generation of submarine optical transmission systems. While future deployments of submarine fiber will benefit from new fiber technologies like multimode and multicore, existing undersea fiber networks can enhance their performance through next-generation higher-baud-rate transceivers, increasing their long-term viability.
Maybe it eas a good decision not to sell Alcatel Submarine Networks Nokia was planning to do back in 2017.
