Ekinops (Euronext Paris: EKI) (FR0011466069) has used OFC 2019 in San Diego as the launchpad for a pair of "white box" ROADM platforms. The RM ROADM-H4-WB and RM ROADM-H10-WB are open-source, standards-based ROADMs offer colorless, directionless, contentionless, and gridless capabilities at 400 Gbps and higher transmission rates.
Each ROADM comes as a 1RU shelf and includes a wavelength selective switch (WSS), amplifiers, and optical channel monitor (OCM). The RM ROADM-H4-WB scales to four degrees and the RM ROADM-H10-WB to 10 degrees on a per-degree basis via addition of another modular shelf. The capability expansion will not affect traffic, Ekinops asserts. Both support up to 96 ITU grid channels and are compatible with any combination of spacing using flexgrid management, the company adds.
Ekinops also has introduced the RM OAC17-WB EDFA-based amplifier. The amplifier unit also come in a 1RU rack-mountable form factor. All three shelves are managed through Ekinops’ Celestis NMS.
"With these new white box elements, Ekinops is directly addressing the growing customer demand for disaggregated solutions" said François Xavier Ollivier, COO at Ekinops. "The industry move towards open, standards-based networks is crucial to free service providers from vendor lock-in and optimize every function in terms of both operations and cost efficiencies. These principles are central to the design of these shelves, enabling flexibility and seamless operation in a multivendor environment."
Ekinops is displaying the new shelves at Booth 4622 at OFC 2019 this week.
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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.
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