Fujitsu details AT&T Open ROADM field trial participation
Fujitsu has provided details of its participation (via its Fujitsu Network Communications North American operating arm) in the field trial AT&T recently conducted of Open ROADM technology (see "AT&T field tests Open ROADM technology").
The company supplied its Virtuora multivendor software-defined networking (SDN) platform as well as elements of its 1FINITY open hardware platform. Those elements included the T300 transport blade as well as L100 and 110 ROADM blades; the latter two combine to provide full ROADM capabilities, according to Chris Cox, director of business development for the AT&T account at Fujitsu Network Communications.
Fujitsu unveiled the 1FINITY disaggregated optical transport portfolio in August 2015 (see "Fujitsu targets data center interconnect with first 1FINITY optical transport platform"). The product line offers a series of 1RU blade-type platforms that can be mixed and matched for a variety of applications. Cox says that the family was not designed specifically for the Open ROADM MSA, but with the knowledge that carriers were interested in such technology.
In the trial, the Open ROADM systems supported transmission of a 100-Gbps wavelength carrying live traffic within AT&T's production network in the Dallas metro area. The Virtuora SDN Network Controller, integrated into the AT&T ECOMP architecture via REST APIs, provisioned the wavelength. In addition to proving the Open ROADM technology works, the trial also demonstrated interoperability between Fujitsu's platforms and Open ROADM systems from Ciena.
Cox described the technology used in the trial as Version 1 of the Open ROADM MSA's output. Development of Version 2 is underway, with service provider input from Orange S.A., Rostelecom, and SK Telecom alongside AT&T.
For related articles, visit the SDN/NFV Topic Center.
For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer's Guide.
Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy has covered fiber optics for more than 15 years, and communications and technology for more than 30 years. He is responsible for establishing and executing Lightwave's editorial strategy across its digital magazine, website, newsletters, research and other information products. He has won multiple awards for his writing.
Contact Stephen to discuss:
- Contributing editorial material to the Web site or digital magazine
- The direction of a digital magazine issue, staff-written article, or event
- Lightwave editorial attendance at industry events
- Arranging a visit to Lightwave's offices
- Coverage of announcements
- General questions of an editorial nature