Lumen, working with its optical networking vendor partner, Ciena, conducted a 1.2 Tbps wavelength service trial spanning 3,050 kilometers (more than 1,900 miles) on Lumen’s Ultra-Low-Loss (ULL) fiber network.
The trial, which demonstrated a 1.2 terabit non-regenerated signal, utilized 800G interfaces to test and qualify services supporting wavelength, Ethernet, and IP services over the 1.2 Tbps single-carrier channel.
Leveraging Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology, equipped in the Waveserver platform, and running over a 6500 photonic line system, a live network trial was conducted between Denver and Dallas.
"1.2 terabits per second isn’t just about incredible speed and long distances; it’s about the value of enabling the next wave of digital transformation,” said Dave Ward, Lumen’s Chief Technology and Product Officer. "Our investment in increased capacity, powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 technology, provides our hyperscale cloud partners and enterprises with the ultra-high-capacity connectivity needed to scale their AI and cloud applications.”
Showcasing interoperability
Besides showcasing the speed and distance capabilities, the Lumen trial also highlighted the importance of multi-sourced platform networks.
During the trial, Lumen demonstrated interoperability between Ciena's Waveserver platform and the Juniper PTX10002-36QDD Packet Transport Router at 800 Gbps over the ultra-long-haul 1.2 Tbps intercity network.
With the Juniper PTX Series Routers, Lumen successfully established Ethernet and IP services with minimal latency and zero packet loss throughout the tests.
Juniper’s PTX has been gaining momentum not only with Lumen, but also with Tier 1 international operators like Oyj.
In November 2024, Juniper Networks and Elisa Oyj announced the deployment of 800Gbps Ethernet services over 800ZR coherent transceivers in an IP-over-DWDM (IPoDWDM) transformation.
Wavelength services rising
Optical wavelength services are gaining continued momentum.
New research from Frost & Sullivan and Vertical Systems Group revealed that while 100G is the typical wavelength service speed sought after by enterprises and other entities, demand for 400G continued to rise throughout 2024.
Frost & Sullivan, in its Frost Radar: Wavelength Services in North America, 2024 report, estimated North American wavelength services revenue at $5.03 billion as of 2023 and expects it to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2023 to 2028.
Likewise, VSG states that customer demand for 400 Gbps wavelength services is steadily increasing, driven by hyperscalers, Data Center connectivity, Cloud providers, and Enterprises with heavy data transfer requirements. However, 800 Gbps Wave services are ramping slowly due to several challenges, including limited availability of services and equipment, as well as protracted lead times for space and power.
Rick Malone, principal of Vertical Systems Group, said “all major providers offer 100 Gbps waves throughout their footprints and are ramping 400 Gbps installations,” adding that the research firm “expects to see a measurable increase in 800 Gbps installations this year.”
Lumen itself continues to maintain a high ranking in the optical wavelength service segment. The service provider offers 400G IP transit ports across its Tier I internet backbone network in the United States and EMEA.
For the fourth consecutive time, Lumen topped Vertical Systems Group’s U.S. Wavelength Services LEADERBOARD, ranking in first place.
While Lumen will face growing competition from Zayo, which is in the process of acquiring Crown Castle’s Fiber Solutions business, the service provider has established a growth path to support new dark fiber and wavelength service demands.
Last August, Lumen partnered with Corning, securing 10% of Corning’s global fiber capacity over the next two years to interconnect AI-enabled data centers.
The agreement, Lumen’s largest cable purchase, will equip the service provider to meet the network infrastructure needs of major data center operators for years to come, including Microsoft, which announced last week that it’s investing with Lumen to support the rising demand for its data centers.
This is a significant deal for Corning as it will serve Lumen’s U.S. intercity network, which includes diverse routes to more than 50 major cities nationwide.
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.