O-band tech to reduce the cost of building 5G networks
17 November 2022
Telecoms specialist Salumanus is one of the first companies to reintroduce a complete network solution based on O-band technology.
O-band is a type of optical transmission with significant cost saving advantages for 5G networks, and omits the need for costly amplifiers. After months of testing in a special laboratory in Poland, the GBC Photonics QSFP28 optical modules and multiplexers by Salumanus are now available to order.
Devices that use O-band transmission can help save 50 percent in network building costs, and reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) by about 80 percent.
Fibre-optic communication is mainly conducted in the wavelength region where optical fibres have small transmission loss. Wavelength regions are divided into five bands: O-, E-, S-, C- and L-bands. O-band, or original band, was the main band used in telecommunications, due to its zero chromatic dispersion. With its transmission range between 1260nm to 1360nm, O-band was the basis for creating lasers and detectors.
Over time, C-band became the preferred choice for operators due to the high attenuation rate of O-band in long distance applications. However, the increasing bit rates, up to 400G today, forced further changes. The 100G transmission in the C-band could work only for 2-3km distance. To send the data farther, operators need to compensate for the chromatic dispersion or use more expensive coherent optics.
For this reason, O-band has seen a significant bounce back, as it can facilitate 100G transmission up to 30-40km without interference and without amplifiers. O-band technology consists of passive multiplexers and optical modules in the QSFP28 form factor, which can be installed directly in network devices.
The GBC Photonics QSFP28 optical modules and multiplexers provided by Salumanus are some of the first ones released on the telecom market. They allow operators to send multiple 100G transmissions over a distance of up to 30km, using the technology of wave multiplication (WDM) based on a 200GHz grid. The company has already introduced 8 channel solutions and continues research to double this number.
The detector technology used in the QSFP28 100G O-Band transceiver brings another innovative feature – the wideband receiver. Thanks to this, transceivers can be used in both single and dual fibre applications and help make to migration from lower speeds to 100G easier.
“5G and 6G network base stations are currently built using 10G and 25G connection, but due to increasing data demand, we will soon need to upgrade those connections to 100G,” said Marcin Bala, CEO of Salumanus. “One way to do so in an effective and economical way is though multiplexers and modules based on O-band. The solutions we offer at Salumanus can cover distances of up to 30km, while providing the required passive infrastructure for easier management and lower energy consumption.”
Similarly, O-bands will benefit small and medium-sized data centres and ISP operators, which currently rely on multiple 10G connections. An O-band solution is a real alternative for easy migration in these cases.
To find out more about the O-band solutions provided by Salumanus, visit www.salumanus.com.
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