SURF and Ribbon demonstrate 2x400GbE transport via a single 800G wavelength

SURF, the collaborative organization for IT in Dutch education and research, continues to push the boundaries of optical communications.

Through a strategic partnership with Ribbon, SURF successfully achieved 800G over a brownfield 1,650 km fiber optic link. This link connects renowned research institutes, including Nikhef , with The Large Hadron Collider located on the CERN campus in Geneva, marking a significant milestone in optical communications.

The trial demonstrated several of Ribbon's advanced transport solutions:

·       Apollo TM800_2 uses 5nm-140Gbaud transmission technology to deliver capacity-reach optimized 800G transport.

·       Apollo Open Optical Line Systems, including hybrid EDFA-Raman amplifiers that maximize the capacity of SURF's brownfield G655 and G652 fiber, have successfully carried third-party vendor wavelengths.

·       NPT 2400 metro router is interoperable with SURF's network and delivers 2x400GbE uplinks running EVPN services on top of BGP to 8x100G ports on that network.

Harold Teunissen, Director of network and campus at SURF, said the trial with Ribbon “pushes the boundaries of our current fiber and shows us what is technically possible with Ribbon's equipment.”

He added that it “signifies a crucial step forward as we gear up our network to cater to the future needs of scientific research and education in the Netherlands and beyond."

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