OFS TeraWave SCUBA optical fiber enables 100-Gbps submarine networks

OFS used last week's OFC 2016 in Anaheim, CA, to launch TeraWave SCUBA Optical Fiber, a new fiber designed to support 100-Gbps optical transmission in submarine networks. The fiber offers what the company asserts is the largest effective area available, as well as "excellent" cabling performance in the C- and L-Bands and low attenuation.

The fiber maker says it has optimized TeraWave SCUBA Optical Fiber for ultra-long haul networks (up to 12,000 km) that use advanced modulation formats and coherent detection. It reduces the performance limitations that fiber nonlinearities and amplifier noise cause, and thus support higher spectral efficiency and longer repeater spacing.

Specifically, the large effective area (153 μm²) reduces nonlinearities, while the low attenuation (0.155 dB/km at 1550 nm) reduces signal loss. The two features enable the launch of higher signal power into the span and reduce amplifier noise, OFS explains.

In addition to offering long reach, the fiber also can benefit repeaterless undersea cable networks, such as coastal festoons and deep-water crossings, the company says.

"The Silica Core and Ultra Big Area features of the TeraWave SCUBA Optical Fiber deliver significant performance margin beyond that needed for transmitting 100 Gb/s over trans-Pacific distances," said Dr. Andrew Oliviero, senior director of Global Product Line Management | Research and Development Optical Fiber, Cable and Connectivity Products for OFS. "The additional performance margin can be used to upgrade to denser signal constellations for increased spectral efficiency as new transponders become commercially available thereby providing an upgrade path and ability to expand system capacity."

OFS adds that the TeraWave SCUBA Optical Fiber features good low water peak (LWP) performance and very low polarization mode dispersion (PMD). It is fully compliant with the ITU G.654 standard for cutoff-shifted fiber.

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