2010 R&D 100
Winner
Bandwidth demands are creating choke points in the backbone
portion of service provider networks, forcing operators to find other options;
100G transport speed is a popular choice. Ciena’s
(Linthicum, Md.) 100G coherent solution
enables network operators to increase the bandwidth of their existing
in-the-ground 10G and 40G fiber infrastructure by 10 and 2.5 times,
respectively, through plug-and-play technology components, without re-engineering
networks or deploying new equipment.
The technology includes significant developments in coherent
detection, high-speed analog-digital and digital-analog conversion, advanced
digital signal processing, and forward error correction algorithms. A
modulation scheme keeps the optical spectrum four times narrower than if the
baud rate had not been reduced, leading to 10G-like behavior and engineering.
Ciena’s coherent optical solution mixes the output of a
local laser tuned to the incoming wavelength with the incoming optical signal,
yielding a significant performance improvement over direct detect systems, and
also enables the linear filter for chromatic and polarization mode dispersion
compensation.
Technology
100G
network solution
Developers
Ciena Corporation
Development TeamThe technology and equipment in this award winner were part
of the optical networking assets of Nortel’s Metro Ethernet Networks business acquired
by Ciena Corporation in March, 2010. More than 30 individuals involved with the
development of this product in functional areas that include advanced
electro-optic development, digital signal processing development, optical
modeling and link characterization, and ASIC/FPGA development.
