XAVIER RENARD DATA NETWORKS
for this loss by boosting signal power across all wavelengths simultaneously. While efficient and cost-effective, these amplifiers also increase the level of accumulated noise in the system. Regenerators are required at certain intervals to overcome degradation and other impairments by converting the degraded optical signal into an electrical signal, cleaning it up, and then retransmitting it optically. Regeneration is complex, costly, and power-hungry, especially as the number of wavelengths and fibres scales up. While these amplification and regeneration strategies have supported remarkable progress in optical communications over the past decades, they are increasingly strained by surging bandwidth demands. Expanding capacity by simply multiplying fibre links or regeneration sites leads to prohibitively high capital and operating costs and energy consumption, undermining efforts to build sustainable, future-ready infrastructure. It’s also important that we remember that, while networks may appear static once deployed, they are in fact dynamic systems that evolve over time through continual hardware and software upgrades. However, upgrading civil infrastructure or replacing cabling is far more costly and disruptive than refreshing electronics or software. To ensure infrastructure investments remain viable over decades, both the fibre and its cabling must support evolving bandwidth demands. This requires high-performance materials and construction standards capable of withstanding environmental stress, while accommodating future increases in data throughput. COHERENT OPTICS AND G.654.E FIBRE: LAYING THE NEW GROUNDWORK Network operators face a strategic challenge of maintaining performance and scalability without compromising environmental goals. This is where the next generation of optical technologies comes into play. Transmission rates of 400 Gbps, 800 Gbps, and up to 1.6 Tbps per wavelength over extended distances have been made a reality thanks to coherent optics paired with advanced digital signal processing (DSP). Coherent systems mitigate signal impairments more effectively and allow for better spectral efficiency, laying the foundation for high-capacity, long-haul optical networks that are both scalable and energy efficient. G.654.E fibre also has a key role to play as a technology that can increase the capabilities of our networks. With unique characteristics of ultra-low attenuation and a large effective area, it allows for higher OSNR, enables longer transmission distances, higher data rates per wavelength, and reduced
infrastructure requirements such as amplification. Compared to conventional fibres such as G.652.D or G.655, G.654.E supports significantly higher bit rates over longer distances. When combined with coherent optical transmission technologies and high-density transceivers, network efficiency is further enhanced. By increasing spectral efficiency, more data per wavelength can be transmitted whilst power consumption and the physical footprint of network equipment are reduced. Coherent innovations have dramatically improved data throughput while lowering the energy and spatial requirements of high-speed optical transmission. This translates into a tangible reduction in the number of fibres, transceivers, amplifiers, and associated infrastructure required to achieve a given capacity. It also means lower consumption of raw materials, fewer emissions related to manufacturing, deployment, transport, and ongoing operation. Fewer equipment sites and less cooling infrastructure are needed too, reducing both capital and operational expenditures.
fibre) with G.654.E is an approach that allows operators to adapt to increasing bandwidth demands while optimising network efficiency and minimising lifecycle costs. A hybrid approach can offer compatibility with existing transmission systems, routes to future upgrades to high-capacity, coherent transmission (800G and beyond), and a smoother migration to next-generation network architectures without needing full infrastructure overhauls. COST EFFECTIVE NETWORKS TODAY AND FOUNDATIONS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Telecom operators and infrastructure planners must rethink how they build for capacity, not just in terms of peak speeds, but in terms of reach, energy use, and long-term resilience. With 800G coherent optical systems commercially available and next- generation technologies capable of 1.2 Tbps and 1.6 Tbps under development, overcoming the technical limitations of existing networks whilst minimising additional optical amplification or signal regeneration costs is crucial. Advanced coherent transmission systems and G.654.E fibre offer a clear
route forward. And given that fibre infrastructure is expected to remain in service for decades, hybrid cables that combine both G.652.D and G.654.E fibres offer a practical and future-proof solution. They enable operators to deploy cost- effective networks today, while ensuring scalability for next-generation high- bit-rate applications. Together, they address
Building a green field 800G link with G.654.E (Source: ACOME Group and Sumitomo Electrical Industries, Ltd.)
For greenfield deployments, especially in in the context of growing bandwidth demand, the ability of G.654.E fibre to support longer distances between regeneration points allows for simplified network architecture. This minimises the number of amplification or regeneration sites, reducing installation complexity and environmental impact. Networks built with G.654.E fibre and coherent optics are inherently more scalable and adaptable to future increases in data traffic. This not only extends infrastructure lifespans but also minimises the need for frequent equipment upgrades and the environmental toll of constructing new facilities. For many network builders and operators, choosing the right optical fibre mix for long-haul infrastructure will be an important long-term strategic decision. Given that cables are often deployed with a hybrid fibre mix to maximise flexibility and futureproof the network, combining G.652.D (the industry-standard single-mode
the core challenges of high-speed, long-distance transmission while laying the groundwork for more efficient, scalable infrastructure. For a continent aiming to lead the next digital revolution, that foundation is not just a technical upgrade, it’s a strategic necessity.
Xavier Renard, marketing director at ACOME Group.
www.opticalconnectionsnews.com
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ISSUE 41 | Q2 2025
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