“New Frontiers –Ultra-high Speed Communications”Specifics, Technologies, Applications and Markets

The amount of backbone Internet bandwidth maintained by the major Internet carriers has been expanding at 75% to 125% per year, driven by the explosion of broadband Internet users and growing use of bandwidth-hungry applications such as HD video. As a result, public and private networks are experiencing unprecedented end-user demand for bandwidth, resulting in a need to cost-effectively scale the capacity of communications networks.

This report reflects dramatic changes in high-speed data transmission for bandwidth-hungry applications (in LAN, metro and long-haul environments). Though the report concentrates on Ethernet-based networks, it shows that the whole telecommunications industry is also actively working to adopt higher speeds of transmission. 40 Gb/s networks already have a history of success; and 100 Gb/s rates are introduced by major service providers. New standards support these developments. Meanwhile, industry analysts already are talking about 400 Gb/s and even 1 Tb/s interfaces.

The report continues the Practel project, which researches and analyzes the development of multi-gigabit per second (Gb/s) optical networks. In particular, this report addresses technological and marketing aspects of ultra-high speed communications: 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s. Such rates are becoming a necessity for data centers and computing networks; as well as for long haul applications including terrestrial submarine extensions.

The report provides up-to-date information on these networks status; it reflects intensive efforts of standard organizations (IEEE, ITU, OIF and other) in developing standards for these types of communications. The IEEE 802.3ba, ITU G.709 (OTU3 and OTU4) and other standards created a basis for the technology advances in the discussed area.

Currently, 40 GE - 40 Gb/s transmission has already made significant contributions to the telecommunications market. The market is still too far from maturity, but it is supported by a developed base of manufacturers. 100 GE – 100 Gb/s networking is also introduced with expectation that the sizable market will evolve in 2012-2013; several service providers are offering services that utilize this technology.

The report details the process of standardization for ultra-high rates communications and advances in technologies; it is also analyzing respective markets, including service providers’ revenue estimate. In addition, the report provides the results of vendors’ survey; and information on technologies trials and service offerings.