Verizon running 200G between Boston and New York

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) reports a first office application (FOA) of a 200-Gbps optical wavelength between Boston and New York. The service provider is using coherent transmission technology from Ciena Corp. (NYSE:CIEN) for the fiber-optic network link.

Verizon previously trialed Ciena's 200-Gbps technology between the two points last year (see "Verizon tests 200-Gbps in the field"). The systems house has been Verizon’s chief provider of 100-Gbps optical transport technology (see, for example, "Verizon to deploy 100 Gbps on three U.S. routes" and "Verizon details 2013 100-Gbps deployments").

The 200G link, provisioned earlier this month, extends approximately 200 miles. Verizon says the deployment proves it can employ such optical transmission rates on its existing network infrastructure without affecting current customer traffic. The FOA also validated the efficacy of using 16-QAM on a single wavelength with the typical 50-GHz channel spacing, the carrier added.

"As more and more of our lives are performed online -- by consumers and businesses alike -- the need for flexible and more efficient ways to carry traffic is essential," said Ed Chan, senior vice president of network infrastructure planning at Verizon via a press statement. "Moving toward 200G technology is critical to stay ahead of traffic growth driven by activities such as online video, LTE 4G and cloud usage."

A Verizon source said the carrier was not commenting about plans for additional 200-Gbps deployments.

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