The next era of networking is here: 1.6 Tb/s. Ciena’s Helen Xenos explains the technology breakthroughs that made this possible, how this changes networking – and what it means for the industry.
1.6 Tb/s coherent technology is here with Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e)! Commercially available since October 2024, WaveLogic 6 Extreme is shipping in optical transport systems and being deployed in networks today. Just in time to intersect high-capacity connectivity demands driven by AI, this is an important milestone not only for Ciena, but also for our customers and the industry.
1.6 Tb/s networking is here. Why is this such a big deal? Let’s take a moment to reflect on what this means, both from a networking as well as an industry perspective.
Technological breakthroughs
First, it is important to realize that several important technological breakthroughs were made to reach this milestone:
- The first use of 3nm CMOS for networking, enabling all the processing required for coherent DSP operating at 200 GBaud while also minimizing space and power for the solution. 3nm is the most advanced silicon technology node available in production today, and it provides 1.6x logic density improvements as well as 30-35% power reduction at the same speed compared to 5nm CMOS that is used in alternate designs.
- The first ultra-high bandwidth transmitter and receiver with 100GHz electrical baseband to enable the 200 GBaud design, compared to off the shelf components (drivers, modulators, trans-impedance amplifiers) that are limited to 65-75GHz bandwidth.
- The first 3nm integrated, ultra-high bandwidth analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, also with 100GHz bandwidth, that can operate at up to 225 GSamples/second in support of the 200 GBaud design. Alternate DAC/ADC designs are limited to ~140GBd.
- Innovative packaging and assembly design, such as the use of custom designed RF flex cables, to ensure the fidelity of the ultra-high-bandwidth signals.
Ciena's WaveLogic 6 Extreme Modem
Co-development of the WL6e modem design, with experts across coherent DSP, RF design, high-speed converters, electro-optics, and optical propagation all working together, has resulted in a product that “just works” to deliver incredible performance, such as 1 Tb/s single-carrier wavelength across 13,500 km, something that was previously unimaginable. Moreover, the decades of experience and unique insights of the Ciena team was critical in ensuring that the advanced technology could be manufactured in volume, a factor just as important as achieving the high performance WL6e design.
Pictured: Team members who helped bring WL6e to life. Scroll below to see more pictures from the journey.
WaveLogic 6 Extreme 1.6 Tb/s impact on networking
With the new advancements in technology achieved in the design, how does WL6e change optical transport?
- Cost reduction: Compared to 95 GBaud solutions, you can now transport double the capacity per wavelength for every pair of transceivers deployed, or 1.5 times the capacity compared to 140 GBaud solutions. Fewer transceivers deployed = less CAPEX.
- Higher-speed connectivity: You can now offer the highest-speed connectivity, including an efficient mix of 400G and 800G client traffic across the longest links, providing a superior experience to the end-users of your network. Ubiquitous 800G connectivity can only be achieved with a 200 GBaud design.
WL6e 200G Baud design enables global 800G connectivity. Full fill system network
modeling results demonstrate 800 Gb/s across the longest links.
- Operational simplification: With each WL6e using 200GHz spacing, you can now fill up the C-band with only 24 channels. In addition to fewer wavelengths to deploy and manage, you are now able to use a simpler photonic line system with transceivers connected directly to WSS modules, minimizing space and power while still having full add/drop access at each terminal location. Using new integrated C&L-band WSS modules, you can now fully fill both the C- and L-bands – the entire 9600GHz of spectrum - using only one-third of a single rack!
- Sustainability advantage: An important advantage of using state of the art technology is the ability to dramatically reduce power per bit. The WL6e 200G Baud design is the only solution that enables the ability to at least double the capacity transported within the same space and power envelope of previous generation 60-95G Baud technologies, delivering 50% reduction in both space and Watts per bit, helping network providers achieve targets set for lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to the lower energy consumption of the new technology, the reduction in product weight and size (per Gb/s) drives further reduction in emissions — resulting from less freight transported, less installation space required, and lower cooling requirements.
Example of how WL6e delivers dramatic space, cost and power reduction.
- More data about the state of the network: In addition to supporting its main function of transporting massive capacity reliably across the longest distances, WaveLogic scientists and engineers have implemented new monitoring capabilities within the 3nm coherent ASIC. Processing 1,600 Tera operations per second, WL6e DSP is capable of supporting sampling rate as fast as 1us for in-service streaming telemetry, allowing for real-time visibility of the smallest external event across the network. Examples of external events include lightning, an earthquake, or an intrusion attempt from a malicious actor.
It is important to note that while WL6e brings new opportunities in networking, there are some factors that remain the same – the ability to deploy in existing Waveserver and 6500 chassis, the ability to deploy over 6500, RLS, or any open line system for that matter alongside earlier generations of coherent wavelengths, the ability to manage using custom software via open APIs or using Navigator Network Control Suite, and the ability to do capacity planning with Planner Plus design software. What does this mean for you?
You can maintain existing operational practices, speed up certification testing, and deploy new technology with its associated benefits more quickly into the network, in empty slots of existing deployed chassis.
Implications for the industry
While the resulting WL6e product is simple to deploy and provides important networking benefits, achieving a 200 GBaud solution that “just works” is incredibly technically challenging. Through our learnings from achieving the new technology benchmarks, Ciena is now best positioned to deliver the next generation of solutions that the industry needs —OIF 236 GBaud 1600ZR, OIF 247 GBaud 1600ZR+, and higher baud solutions approaching 300 GBaud—as well as provide guidance with our contributions into the specifications and implementation agreements in the relevant standards bodies and forums. Many of the scientists and engineers involved with WaveLogic 6 Extreme are also leading contributors in these organizations.
As always, it has been very exciting to have a front-row seat to experience what goes into achieving another industry world first. Would you like to know what that’s like? Check out the photo album below - we’re proud to share some of the milestones on the journey to 1.6T with you.
