Optus expands optical network

Sydney, June 08, 2000

Cable & Wireless Optus announced a massive increase in the capacity of its state-of-the-art fibre optic network.

Using DWDM (Dense Wavelength Divison Multiplex) technology, it will increase capacity 40 fold. The system will provide up to 40 wavelength channels at 10 Gbps with the ability to expand to 160 channels.

"We are delivering to our customers the best and fastest fibre optic network in Australia," said Bill Hope, Chief Technical Officer, Cable & Wireless Optus.

The company is set to award multi-million dollar contracts for DWDM technology to Nortel Networks and Fujitsu. DWDM is a technology which increases the capacity of existing optic fibres. It uses multiple lasers and transmits multiple light signals simultaneously over a single optical fibre.

"The key benef it of DWDM is that it allows us to expand our existing network capabilities without the need for significant investment in building new fibre cable infrastructure," said Mr Hope.

"It allows for a higher data rate at a lower transmission cost. This will enable Cable & Wireless Optus to significantly increase the capacity and efficiency of its existing fibre network to cater for the very strong demand for data communications," he said.

Cable & Wireless Optus' fibre optic network consists of over 8,600 km of inter-city cables linking Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, plus 9,600 km of cable in metropolitan and CBD areas.

Nortel Networks will provide their Optera Long Haul 1600 Optical Line DWDM System to enhance Cable & Wireless Optus' inter-city cables and their Optera Metro Multi-Service Platform for specialised DWDM solutions to increase the capacity of Cable & Wireless Optus' metropolitan and CBD rings.

Fujitsu will be further expanding the transmission systems currently supplied to Cable & Wireless Optus via the introduction of point-to-point DWDM technology that will be deployed in metropolitan areas.

Nortel's DWDM technology can support more than 160 wavelength channels each carrying up to 10 Gbps. This is more than 1.6 terabits per second of data transmission speed. Fujitsu's DWDM technology is totally optical, requiring no electronic conversion, and allows signals to travel in both directions on a single fibre. This makes it particularly applicable in the metropolitan environment.

"DWDM, together with other technologies we are developing across our networks, positions Cable & Wireless Optus as one of the few companies in the world able to offer tailor made voice and high speed data solutions to every Australian business," Mr Hope said.

The DWDM equipment is expected to be installed and in use by October 2000.