Alcatel-Lucent Achieves Distance Record For Undersea Data Transmission

Lab trial leverages SOFTNODE platform and unique real-time processing 300G 8QAM technology to demonstrate cost-effective high capacity increase on subsea cable 

Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks (ASN), the undersea cables subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU), has achieved a breakthrough record of data transmission over a distance of 10,000 kilometers using real-time processing prototypes of a unique cost-effective 300 gigabits-per-second new modulation technology that will optimize the performance of submarine cable systems.

The trial has been achieved on the 10,000km of ASN’s test bed, combining the innovative 300G 8QAM (8 quadrature amplitude modulation) technology of ASN’s 1620 SOFTNODE platform and second-generation coherent submarine fiber (CSF-2).

8QAM technology can optimize both existing and new undersea cable systems, enabling operators to deliver more than 15 terabits-per-second (Tbit/s) per fiber pair on transoceanic systems – equivalent to 2.25 million HDTV channels streamed simoultaneously.

Olivier Gautheron, Chief Technology Officer of Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks said: “This breakthrough underlines ASN’s strategic focus in R&D to raise the bar for undersea fiber-optic technology. Our researchers continue to develop new solutions to further apply our own innovation to help traditional and web-scale operators cope with increasing requirements for speed, capacity and cost-effectiveness.”

Leveraging the largest research and development capabilities in the submarine cable industry, in Villarceux, France, ASN has achieved several breakthroughs in both repeatered and unrepeatered submarine cable systems. This new record is the latest in a long series of two dozen records over the past 20 years, all showcasing breakthroughs that have transformed long distance data transmission.