T8 Sets Long-Haul Data Transmission Record Using Corning’s Ultra Low-Loss and Large Effective Area Fibers with ROPA

Telecommunications equipment maker T8 announced today it has set a new record for data transmission over long distances, transmitting 200 Gb/s per channel over 520 kilometers of Corning® TXF™ fiber and Corning® SMF-28® ULL fiber. The demonstration used T8’s high-speed multiservice and multiprotocol dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) platform, Volga.

The achievement demonstrates how Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) innovative fibers and T8’s transponder technology combined to enable transmission of more data over longer distances than ever before – offering potential benefits to network operators in remote areas with challenging terrain.

This result was achieved with forward and backward remote optically pumped amplifiers (ROPAs) in combination with co- and counter-propagating Raman amplifiers without the use of intermediate electrical power supply points. Using this distinctive combination, service providers and enterprises can now achieve ultra-high capacity and low latency, at a lower cost per bit.

“There are many long-distance routes in Russia that might benefit from this system design,” said Vladimir Treshchikov, general director, T8. “Corning’s fibers extended our system’s unrepeated reach by 90-100 kilometers compared to a standard single-mode fiber. Our experiment showed that T8’s state-of-the-art transponders allow transmission of a 200G signal over almost the same distances as 100G. This is possible due to the use of the DP-QPSK format with a high symbol rate (56.8 GBaud).”

Volga is a high-speed multiservice DWDM platform for backbone and regional optic fiber communications. It supports up to 400G per channel, 20T per fiber. Key customers for Volga are telecommunication operators and data centers. The Volga platform has EC declaration of conformity and complies with the requirements of the European Union.

“Corning is pleased to collaborate with T8 to demonstrate such an innovative combination of 200G transmission equipment with our advanced, high-data-rate fibers. It’s an example of how we work alongside industry leaders around the world to solve tough technology challenges,” said Sergey Akopov, optical fiber technical director, Russia region, Corning Incorporated. “Russia is a vast country with challenging terrain – such as remote areas with limited or no access to electricity. Here, and in similar geographic areas, Corning brings value with our long-haul fiber offerings, helping our customers reduce their capital and operational expenditures.”

TXF fiber is compliant with ITU-T Recommendation G.654.E and is optimized for long-haul terrestrial networks with a large effective area and cut-off wavelength shifted to just below the loss-minimized C-band region. In addition, SMF-28 ULL fiber features the lowest attenuation specification of any commercially available ITU-T Recommendation G.652-compliant fiber while maintaining compatibility with the installed base of other single-mode fibers. Using standard G.652 fibers, the maximum transmission distance would be 460 km.

About T8
T8 (www.t8.ru), located in Moscow, is the leading manufacturer of wavelength-division multiplexing telecommunication equipment (DWDM) in Russia and CIS countries. We develop and manufacture a complete line of DWDM equipment with channel speed up to 400G, 20T per fiber. The company has 250 employees including four professors and twenty-two PhDs. The company has the best-in-Russia fiber optic testing laboratory enabling complex measurements for DWDM systems. It is listed among the Top 10 of the Russia most innovative small companies according to the «TechUspech» rating. T8 offers integrated solutions for building DWDM systems on a turnkey basis: Design, supply, installation and maintenance of the equipment. The company has successfully deployed more than 75,000 km of long-haul DWDM networks.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a more than 165-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries.

Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display technology, automotive, and life sciences vessels. Corning’s industry-leading products include damage-resistant cover glass for mobile devices; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for state-of-the-art communications networks; trusted products to accelerate drug discovery and delivery; and clean-air technologies for cars and trucks.