China Unicom tests ADVA G.metro WDM-PON for mobile fronthaul

ADVA Optical Networking says that China Unicom has completed a field trial of the company's G.metro WDM-PON implementation in a mobile fronthaul network application. The test involved a prototype of WDM-PON system, which the Chinese mobile operator subsequently showed to customers in the carrier's lab, ADVA adds.

ADVA's G.metro prototype is based on an ITU-T recommendation currently under development that supports up to 40 DWDM wavelengths on a 100-GHz wavelength grid. Each channel can support 10 Gbps over 20 km without amplification. Self-tuning transponders select the wavelength channel targeted to the transponder's location.

"Due to booming demand for mobile data, it's become essential that we find innovative ways to increase capacity. Converged metro-access networks are key to this, but so are reducing complexity and improving operational efficiency. That's what ADVA Optical Networking's strategy is able to deliver," said Guangquan Wang, editor, G.metro recommendation and director, network technology research institute, China Unicom. "With this field trial and lab demo, we've shown how to achieve these efficiencies and ensure low-latency performance. During the trial, the prototype was installed in one of our central offices in Tianjin to replace the transmission link of one of our working LTE stations. The results showed that the new technology integrated seamlessly with our current wireless equipment and had no impact on services whatsoever."

G.metro can apply to a variety of transmission requirements, including sending wavelengths to remote radio units, base stations, desktops, or end users. ADVA views G.metro as appropriate to a wide range of metro access applications, including mobile fronthaul/backhaul, fixed broadband access and enterprise networks.

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