SUNNYVALE, Calif. & LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Infinera(NASDAQ: INFN) and Windstream, a leading provider of advanced networkcommunications, today announced the completion of a live network trial thatsuccessfully achieved 800 gigabits per second (800G) single-wavelengthtransmission over 730 kilometers (km) across Windstream?s long-haul networkbetween San Diego and Phoenix. In addition to the industry-leading real-worldperformance at 800G, Windstream and Infinera set another industry record bylooping back the signal to achieve a 700G transmission over 1,460 km. The trialwas performed using Infinera?s fifth-generationcoherent optical technology, ICE6 (Infinite Capacity Engine), equipped in aGroove (GX) Series platform over industry-standard G.652-compliant SMF-28fiber, with both signal rates achieving a performance level that metWindstream?s production network deployment standards.
The results of the trial mark a major milestone in optical networking bydemonstrating that ultra-high-speed optical transmissions, such as 700G and800G, powered by Infinera?s ICE6 optical engine and Windstream?shigh-performance fiber network, can be deployed in real-world networkapplications over significant distances. This will enable emerging 400 GigabitEthernet (400 GbE) services to be supported over longer distances within theWindstream national network. High-performance, high-speed transmission willalso enable network operators like Windstream to realize increased efficiencyin cost per bit and power per bit, as well as increased capacity per fiber byas much as 70 percent compared to third-generation (400G) coherent technologyand by as much as 35 percent compared to fourth-generation (600G) coherenttechnology.
?Windstream remains committed to staying at the forefront oftechnological innovation and the superior performance of ICE6 brings real-worldvalue to our network and enables us to meet the explosive growth in bandwidthdemands of our customers,? said Buddy Bayer, chief network officer atWindstream. ?The flexibility of ICE6 coupled with the easily deployable compactmodular form factor of the GX Series will enable Windstream to quickly andeasily introduce this new technology across our entire network from edge tocore.?
The industry-leading 700G and 800G transmission performance was enabledby advances in Nyquist subcarriers, a pioneering innovation developed byInfinera?s Optical Innovation Center (OIC). Unlike competing technologies,Nyquist subcarrier-based solutions enable superior performance by mapping thetraffic into tightly packed, lower-baud-rate digital subcarriers within asingle optical carrier. In addition to providing significant performancebenefits on their own, subcarriers also amplify the benefits of otherinnovations from Infinera?s OIC such as 64QAM long-codeword probabilisticconstellation shaping and dynamic bandwidth allocation that now can be appliedto each subcarrier independently.
?Infinera is delighted to set this new industry benchmark and partnerwith Windstream, a network operator that continually pushes the boundaries ofoptical networking,? said Parthiban Kandappan, chief technology officer atInfinera. ?As proven by the superior performance of this network trial, webelieve our unique expertise with Nyquist subcarriers coupled with thegroundbreaking innovations introduced by ICE6 will represent the standard forhigh-speed optical engines going forward.?
About Windstream
Windstream Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of advanced networkcommunications and technology solutions. Windstream provides data networking,core transport, security, unified communications and managed services tomid-market, enterprise and wholesale customers across the U.S. The company alsooffers broadband, entertainment and security services for consumers and smalland medium-sized businesses primarily in rural areas in 18 states. Services aredelivered over multiple network platforms including a nationwide IP network,our proprietary cloud core architecture and on a local and long-haul fibernetwork spanning approximately 164,000 miles. Additional information isavailable at windstream.com or www.windstreamwholesale.com.Please visit our newsroom at news.windstream.com or follow us on Twitter at@Windstream.
About Infinera
Infinera is a global supplier of innovative networking solutions thatenable carriers, cloud operators, governments, and enterprises to scale networkbandwidth, accelerate service innovation, and automate network operations. TheInfinera end-to-end packet optical portfolio delivers industry-leadingeconomics and performance in long-haul, submarine, data center interconnect,and metro transport applications. To learn more about Infinera, visit www.infinera.com, followus on Twitter @Infinera, and read ourlatest blog posts at www.infinera.com/blog.
Infinera and the Infinera logo are registered trademarks of InfineraCorporation.
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, butnot limited to the potential technical, operational and economic benefitsprovided to network operators using Infinera?s ICE6 equipped in a GX Seriesplatform. These statements are not guarantees of results and should not beconsidered as an indication of future activity or future performance. Actualresults may vary materially from these expectations as a result of variousrisks and uncertainties. Information about these risks and uncertainties, andother risks and uncertainties that affect Infinera?s business, is contained inthe risk factors section and other sections of Infinera?s Annual Report on Form10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 28, 2019 as filed with the SEC on March4, 2020, as well as any subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC.These reports are available on Infinera?s website at www.infinera.com andthe SEC?s website at www.sec.gov. Infineraassumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any suchforward-looking statements.
