TSIC Plots a Flexible Future for Transport
Following TeliaSonera International Carrier's recent trial of Coriant's CloudWave Optics software, the wholesale operator plans to deploy the software in its network at some point, but isn't necessarily in a hurry to do so, according to one of its top technology executives.
In a recent field trial, Telia Carrier tested Coriant 's hiT Multi-Haul Transport Platform and CloudWave Optics software to support transmission between three European cities using QPSK, 8 QAM and 16 QAM modulation formats, and demonstrating bandwidth flexibility to move between 100G, 200G, 300G and 400G. (See Coriant Trials New Flexi-Rate Software With TSIC.)
"We don't see a demand for this kind of flexibility right now, but we will see it in the future," admits Mattias Fridstrom, vice president of technology at TSIC.
Coriant's CloudWave Optics suite made its first big public splash last month at the Next Generation Optical Networking Conference in Nice, France, with Coriant touting flexibility between several modulation formats as a major selling point. (See Coriant Unveils Photonics Software, Test With TSIC.)
While Fridstrom views modulation flexibility as a positive, he adds, "To be honest, I don't care what kind of modulation we use because our customers are not asking that question of us. They just want transport from point A to point B in the best way possible, and we are focused on that. In the future customers will want to have flexibility with [bandwidth] to go to 200G or higher, but not so much right now."
Fridstrom further explains that TSIC's intention in participating in the trial of CloudWave optics "was just to see if it works in a live network on fiber in the ground." He says he doesn't anticipate any further testing of the software, but didn't offer further details on a deployment timeline.
Whenever CloudWave Optics does get deployed in TSIC's network, it could help Coriant solidify its position as a supplier to TSIC, which has used Coriant gear on its European network, but also has turned to Coriant competitors Infinera Corp. (Nasdaq: INFN) and Ciena Corp. (NYSE: CIEN) for recent deployments. (See TICS Expands With Coriant's 100G Gear and TeliaSonera Overlays With Ciena.)
— Dan O'Shea, Managing Editor, Light Reading
