Using Raman amplification, Nortel extends un-repeatered submarine links to 350 km

March 13, 2003

March 13, 2003--Nortel Networks today announced that extended, un-repeatered submarine links of up to 350 km can now be achieved through Raman amplification. In conjunction with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Nortel has successfully deployed an un-repeatered optical long haul platform in Asia.

Nortel Networks today announced new, customer driven enhancements to the Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul portfolio for use in un-repeatered submarine applications.

Extended, un-repeatered submarine links of up to 350 km can now be achieved through Raman amplification, a network component that boosts the optical signal to achieve greater distances. This eliminates the need for costly submerged repeaters, therefore driving lower capital and operational costs when compared to traditional submarine solutions.

In conjunction with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Nortel has successfully deployed an un-repeatered optical long haul platform in a large-scale project in Asia as part of a previously announced contract.

"With Nortel Networks, we've shown that putting highly-reliable, high-capacity links across the sea can be cost-effective," asserts George Lim, senior vice president, PLDT. "Nortel Networks un-repeatered optical network solution links directly into our terrestrial optical network with common management and functionality as if the sea didn't exist, offering the opportunity for great operational savings."

Submarine communications systems with no repeaters or other submerged active equipment are known as "festoon networks," explain Nortel representatives. Festoon networks can be deployed with frequent connections across stretches of water or with underwater cable instead of standard terrestrial links for more cost-effective connections along stretches of coastline.

Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul un-repeatered platform is also aimed at terrestrial applications where constructing and maintaining repeater sites can be prohibitively expensive, as is the case in mountainous or densely forested regions.

The OPTera Long Haul un-repeatered platform is currently offered with a range of modules and configurations to optimize reach and capacity. The enhancements announced today will allow a single optical link of up to 350 km, with capacity scaling from 10 to 800 Gbits/sec per fiber pair.