FUNET trials ADVA FSP 3000 TeraFlex™ to dramatically expand network capacity

Ultra-flexible capabilities enable 400GbE transport over 2,844km link on existing research and education network

ADVA (FSE: ADV) today announced that CSC – IT Center for Science, which operates the Finnish University and Research Network (FUNET), has transported 400Gbit/s over its existing long-haul network using the ADVA FSP 3000 TeraFlex™. The trials pave the way for ultra-fast access to Finland’s supercomputers and could offer a major boost to Europe’s research and education community. They also demonstrated the terminal’s ability to carry 1200Gbit/s channels for the transport of 3x 400GbE over a live meshed ROADM infrastructure. What’s more, the trials highlighted how TeraFlex™ maximizes spectral efficiency in any open line system. Using the terminal’s ultra-flexible modulation and adaptive baud rate capabilities, FUNET also achieved new levels of bandwidth efficiency – and therefore could significantly reduce opex – for 400GbE, 100GbE and lower-speed services.

FUNET’s tests underline the ability of the ADVA FSP 3000 TeraFlex™ to massively increase the capacity of existing terrestrial long-haul networks. The low-power 1RU terminal enables channels of up to 1200Gbit/s for 3x 400GbE services and a total capacity of 3.6Tbit/s. Using network telemetry, software-defined fractional QAM modulation and adaptive baud rate capabilities, the solution is able to ensure maximum spectral efficiency at every point in the network. This enables operators to leverage previously unused optical spectrum so that deployed infrastructure can be made to transport far more data. As well as succeeding with 600Gbit/s transport over 278km and with 400Gbit/s over 2,844km, the trials showed the power of harnessing granular increments with speeds of 300Gbit/s over 4,681km.