Lumen and Ciena Achieve Record 1.2 Tbps Wavelength Transmission Over 3,050 Kilometers
Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) and Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) have successfully conducted a 1.2 terabit wavelength service trial over 3,050 kilometers (more than 1,800 miles) on Lumen’s Ultra-Low-Loss (ULL) fiber network, setting a world record for the longest 1.2 terabit non-regenerated signal.
Using 800G interfaces, Lumen and Ciena successfully tested and validated services to support wavelength, Ethernet, and IP over the 1.2 Tbps single carrier channel. The live network trial from Denver to Dallas utilized Ciena’s latest WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology, integrated into the Waveserver platform and operating over a 6500 photonic line system.
“Achieving 1.2 terabits per second is not just about remarkable speed and distance; it’s about enabling the next wave of digital transformation,” said Dave Ward, Lumen’s chief technology and product officer. “Lumen is leading the way in building a next-generation network capable of handling the rapid growth of AI and cloud workloads. Our investment in increased capacity, powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 technology, offers our hyperscale cloud partners and enterprises the ultra-high-capacity connectivity needed to scale their AI and cloud applications. With 400G connectivity speeds today and a seamless upgrade path to 1.2 terabits, Lumen is the trusted network for AI.” The Lumen 400G-enabled network already spans over 78,000 route miles, and the company continues to invest in next-generation fiber to enhance its Ultra-Low Loss (ULL) fiber network, the largest in North America.