OFS improves single-mode fiber for 100G, 400G systems

OFS launches its TeraWave optical fiber.

March 17, 2014

2 min read

OFS has launched its TeraWave fiber, an improved ITU-T G.654B large area single-mode fiber designed for 100 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s coherent transport in terrestrial long haul systems. Introduced at the recent OFC 2014, the company says its TeraWave fiber "enables higher transmission speeds over longer distances with more wavelengths, reducing the need for expensive signal regeneration."

According to OFS, the TeraWave fiber offers a combination of optimized effective area, excellent cabling performance, and reduced attenuation compared to conventional ITU-T G.652.D single-mode fibers. These benefits improve coherent transport, including higher spectral efficiency at 100 Gb/s and true long haul reach at 400 Gb/s. With 50% the effective area of conventional G.652.D fiber types, OFS claims that the TeraWave fiber greatly reduces nonlinear impairments for coherent transmission, enabling the launch of higher signal power for the increased Optical Signal Noise Ratio (OSNR) needed for increasingly advanced modulation formats and longer reach.

OFS add that it manufactures the new TeraWave fiber using proprietary processes to enable improved linearity, low attenuation, and ultra-low polarization mode dispersion (PMD) compared to conventional G.652.D single-mode fiber.

“The longer optical reach enabled by TeraWave fiber means fewer regeneration sites helping to save capital cost, rack space in huts, and power consumption," explains David DiGiovanni, chief technology officer of OFS. "Furthermore, increased capacity through higher spectral efficiency has always been the driver of long haul economics, and TeraWave fiber supports this increase through optimized fiber properties. This achievement will have increasing value as transmission technology approaches the ‘non-linear Shannon limit.’ TeraWave fiber increases the practical capacity of optical fiber to better support future bandwidth demands.”

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Matt Vincent

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Matt Vincent is a B2B technology journalist, editor and content producer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in the full range of media content production and management, as well as SEO and social media engagement best practices, for both Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine and its website CablingInstall.com. He currently provides trade show, company, executive and field technology trend coverage for the ICT structured cabling, telecommunications networking, data center, IP physical security, and professional AV vertical market segments. Email: [email protected]