Nistica introduces Bernoulli optical switching platform for data center and 5G wireless networks

Nistica, a subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd., has introduced an optical product line to address bandwidth growth in data center and 5G wireless networks. The optical networking provider says it will work with its existing customer base of optical system vendors to offer the Bernoulli platform, an edge optical switching platform, to web-scale customers and wireless carriers.

Based on Texas Instruments' DLP technology, Nistica's Bernoulli platform can be customized in firmware and optical configuration for various applications. The ultra-low-profile modules are designed to physically resemble the standard CFP2 form-factor designed for optical transceivers, and will perform the functions of flexible spectral control, wavelength switching, and power management, says Nistica.

As next-generation architectures for web-centric optical system deployments shift toward a disaggregated approach, platforms are needed to provide functions such as optical channel monitoring (OCM), wavelength selective switching (WSS), and dynamic gain equalization (DGE) of optical amplifiers. According to Nestica, the Bernoulli platform is ideal for delivering these functions, which can all be controlled in a grid-flexible method, as needed for optimal spectrum allocation in emerging Software Defined Networks (SDN).

The first Bernoulli products are being delivered for in line amplifier (ILA) deployments, affirms Nestica. The products can be accommodated in 1RU units required by the end-customer, and the hardware platform can be rewired to offer a combination of OCM and WSS functions for other open line system (OLS) configurations.

"The move toward disaggregation has led to an added layer of demands on wavelength management products. We have created compact multi-function units which meet the price-performance needs of open line systems," said Ashish Vengsarkar, Nistica's CEO. "While data center interconnect is the first use-case, we expect a significant demand in wireless front-haul networks as 5G deployments take off in the next few years."

Nistica, which was acquired by Fujikura in 2012, will demonstrate the Bernoulli platform at Booth 6623 during OFC 2018 in San Diego this week (see "Fujikura to acquire WSS vendor Nistica").

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