M-net trials 500-Gbps via Nokia super coherent Photonic Service Engine 3 with probabilistic constellation shaping

Feb. 7, 2019
M-net has conducted field trials of the super coherent capabilities of Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine 3 (PSE-3) coherent ASIC, the two companies say. The trial saw the use of probabilistic constellation shaping to support wavelengths of 500 Gbps.

M-net has conducted field trials of the super coherent capabilities of Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine 3 (PSE-3) coherent ASIC, the two companies say. The trial saw the use of probabilistic constellation shaping to support wavelengths of 500 Gbps.

Nokia unveiled the PSE-3 at OFC 2018 (see “Nokia touts ultimate in spectral efficiency via PSE-3 chipset and probabilistic constellation shaping”). The coherent transmission engine leverages probabilistic constellation shaping to enable the use of 64-QAM for a variety of transmission rates up to 600 Gbps. The shaping technique, developed by Nokia Bell Labs, varies the use of individual points within the 64-QAM constellation depending upon the characteristics of the fiber. The shaping optimizes the optical power for the fiber and application, enabling a more robust, spectrally efficient coherent transmission, Nokia says.

In the case of the M-net field trial, the collaborators used probabilistic constellation shaping to optimize the transmission to achieve 500 Gbps over parts of M-Net’s Bavarian DWDM network. "This field trial clearly underlines the innovative strength of M-net. We are very proud to collaborate with Nokia to push the technology envelope on our state-of-the-art fiber-optic network, and to be the first carrier to publicly test the PSE-3 and its probabilistic constellation shaping technology," said M-net CTO Dr. Hermann Rodler.

The field trial was the first for the PSE-3’s super coherent probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS) capabilities. "We're excited to partner with M-net on the implementation of its new fiber-optic backbone network,” said Sam Bucci, head of optical networking at Nokia. “The Technical University of Munich played a key role in the development of PCS, and the PSE-3 was largely developed at Nokia's R&D facility in Nuremberg, so it's only appropriate that the first field trial of PSE-3 technology would take place in Bavaria."

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About the Author

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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