Telstra hits 1.6Tb/s data milestone with Ericsson & Ciena

Telstra has announced a groundbreaking achievement in optical communications technology, successfully transmitting data at a rate of 1.6 terabits per second (Tb/s) through a single optical channel over a distance of 700 kilometres. This milestone was reached in collaboration with Ericsson, utilising Ciena's WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology.

The significant trial was conducted alongside live traffic services on the Telstra InfraCo fibre route between Melbourne and Canberra, one of Australia's highest capacity routes. By incorporating Ciena's WL6e, which leverages advanced 3nm silicon technology, Telstra has doubled its existing fibre wavelength capacity from 800 gigabits per second (Gb/s) to 1.6Tb/s.

Sanjay Nayak, Telstra's Fixed Engineering Executive, highlighted the trial's implications for the company's infrastructure and customer service. "This critical technology will allow us to further future proof our networks by investing in technology to benefit our customers and enabling us to keep up with the data demands of Australians," he said.

Nayak further contextualised the trial's success, noting the immense capacity of 1.6Tb/s. "To put this trial into perspective, 1.6Tb/s of bandwidth through a single wavelength is the same bandwidth as over 300,000 Netflix HD streams going at the same time. Or you can download 17 petabytes (PB) in a day which is more than 5 billion songs or over 12 billion photos. It is a 100 percent increase per channel capacity and a 14.3 percent increase in capacity per system."

This trial surpassed the previous record for the highest capacity on a single wavelength by over 200 kilometres. The successful implementation of WL6e technology also marks a significant step towards enhancing Telstra's long haul infrastructure, allowing it to support 800G connectivity across its intercity fibre network.

Matt Vesperman, Regional Managing Director of Ciena Asia Pacific, emphasised the broader impact of this milestone. "This successful milestone with Telstra and Ericsson, transmitting more data, faster than ever, over a greater distance, is a strong indicator of our ability to significantly improve network performance efficiency and scale. Once fully deployed, WaveLogic 6 Extreme will help put Telstra at the forefront of bringing a more connected future to Australians and its customers globally," he said.

Emilio Romeo, Head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand, also underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in achieving this breakthrough. "This achievement with Telstra and Ciena is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in optical networking technology. By leveraging Ciena's advanced 3nm chipset technology, we've successfully doubled the capacity of Telstra's wavelengths, paving the way for more robust, high-capacity networks to support the ever-growing data demands."

The trial was carried out on Telstra's production network, utilising the InfraCo central route between the Lonsdale Exchange in Victoria and Barton Exchange in the Australian Capital Territory. This successful implementation not only sets a new benchmark for long-distance optical transmission but also positions Telstra as a leader in advancing Australia's telecommunications landscape and future connectivity.