Flexible linecard integrates tunable laser

Lightscape has integrated a novel tunable laser from Agility Communications into its optical networking solution offerings.

Lightscape has integrated a novel tunable laser from Agility Communications into its optical networking solution offerings.

The tunable linecard, which is undergoing initial testing by customers, is designed to help operators realise significant operational cost savings, performance and manageability across the entire C-Band for metropolitan and cellular networks.

"This technology integration from a top-tier company such as Lightscape Networks, along with Agility Communications, is believed to be an industry first for metropolitan-based converged networking platforms", said Ron Nelson, president and CEO of Agility Communications.

"The metro market requires operators to decrease capital and operating expenditures, while still furthering the development of advanced network applications.

We're thrilled Lightscape recognises the huge benefits widely tunable lasers will bring to carriers and look forward to delivering those benefits to the marketplace".

Agility's 4245 EML widely tunable laser integration into Lightscape Networks' flagship XDMT hybrid optical networking platform creates a tunable linecard which supports 50 and 100GHz channel spacing.

Designed to operate across 100 ITU channels of the standard C-Band, the 4245 EML enables dynamic configuration and reconfiguration of wavelengths while in service and without affecting traffic on the network.

This integration provides numerous cost and performance benefits to the operator, giving the ability to finely tune wavelengths through a single card for unrivalled flexibility in the provisioning of services.

Another direct customer benefit is the simplification of network planning.

Because widely tunable lasers can cover the entire C-Band, carriers purchasing them only need to forecast their total volume of demand, rather than having to predict the demand for 100 or more individual wavelengths separately.

Furthermore, operators have the opportunity to achieve massive economies of scale across the network, with just a few tunable lasers replacing the need for significant numbers of expensive spare fixed lasers.

Particularly for systems carrying multiple wavelengths, the need for operators to invest in 40 different fixed wavelength lasers as spares is eliminated, simplifying inventory management and ultimately saving truck roll costs.

Failed transmitters can be easily restored and wavelengths re-routed, eliminating the time delay normally associated with installing additional cards for the routing and rerouting of traffic.

A centralised management system promotes efficient nonintrusive dynamic wavelength provisioning, providing flexibility to quickly provision lambda services through live network traffic.

This allows operators to use all lasers at all times, in order to make full use of network capacity and avoid wavelength roadblocks during times of peak demand.

This approach dramatically reduces OPEX and creates revenue generating potential through enabling faster delivery of new services.

"Cost reduction is a major concern for today's vendors and their customers", explained Ido Gur, vice president of marketing for Lightscape Networks, "and we are very excited about the capital efficiency and flexibility prospects this technology integration provides operators through the XDM platform.

The Agility tunable laser fits perfectly with our single architecture philosophy - combining the functionality of one device to simplify networking functions, while achieving dramatic performance and cost advantages".

With this tunable laser, Lightscape Networks offers complete backwards compatibility with its current installed base across all existing shelves.

This allows carriers to enhance their systems with the latest technology without facing the costs of having to replace existing networking equipment.

"The introduction of a C-band tunable linecard is an important and strategic move for Lightscape Networks", said Vladimir Kozlov, senior analyst, RHK optical components.

"There is no doubt that Lightscape Network's product will find wide acceptance among carriers as the industry emerges from the downturn".

The widely tunable laser linecard will be generally available within Lightscape Networks solutions in Q4 2002.

There has already been a significant level of interest in this latest development, with customer testing to date yielding a positive response.

Back to top