OFC NFOEC: ROADMs Offer New Flexibility

Vendors at OFC NFOEC this week are showing off new and improved reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) solutions, some of which are aimed at edge networking applications.

For example, Fujitsu Network Communications is highlighting its new two-degree ROADM blade for the FLASHWAVE 7500. Most ROADM solutions today are multidegree, meaning they are used in deployments involving multiple rings or networks, explains Richard Colter, product manager of photonic products for Fujitsu Network Communications, but the 7500 2D ROADM was designed specifically for two-degree applications, which also means it’s more economical for metro applications.

JDSU also recently came out with an edge ROADM that is smaller, cheaper and provides fewer wavelengths, making it well-suited for access and metro applications. The product is called the Mini WSS.

Optium Corp., an optical subsystems company, also had a noteworthy announcement in the ROADM space, said Michael Howard of Infonetics Research Inc. The company unveiled what it calls a Mixed Channel Plan (MCP) WSS ROADM, which will be available on Optium's recently announced High Resolution WSS platform. MCP will give users the ability to change the channel plan of the WSS ROADM on the fly, allowing operators to address bandwidth requirements as they evolve from 10gbps to 40gbps to 100GbE. In addition, Optium's High Resolution WSS platform with MCP will allow a channel plan to be switched in the field between ITU spacings of 50GHz, 100GHz, or an arbitrary mix of the two.

“Here's another example of ROADM differentiation--future proofing by allowing the mixing of speeds 10G/40G/100G and mixing of 50GHz/100GHz channel spacings in the same device – a very nice first,” said Howard of Infonetics.

Said Steve Frisken, vice president of wavelength products for Optium: "The key market driver behind our MCP and High Resolution WSS platform is the accelerating use of 40gbps and planning for 100GbE transport in network upgrades as carriers tackle increasing demands on bandwidth capacity. We understand that next generation wavelength switching infrastructure must be flexible enough to be able to respond to changing requirements and transmission innovation. Optium's High Resolution WSS platform and advanced features, such as MCP, is designed to address those needs.”

Fujitsu Network Communications Inc. http://us.fujitsu.com/telecom
INFONETICS RESEARCH Inc. www.infonetics.com
JDSU www.jdsu.com
Optium Corp. http://www.optium.com

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