Enter the Matrix of Coherent Networks Deployment
Planning to deploy 40G/100G technologies? Well, there’s no escaping it; you have to choose between the green pill and the brown pill. In both cases, you win some and you lose some. It’s all about what you are ready to lose and what you want to gain. Choose well.
Before you embark on the quest on deploying high-speed coherent systems, you might want some expert advice on the matter. No need to see an oracle, you’ve come to the right place to ask your questions.
What’s a coherent system?
Coherent systems are a complex way of transmitting data in a fiber. The amplitude and phase of optical signals can be modulated instead of simply turning the pulse off and on. Coherent systems are used in next-gen networks to carry multiple high-bit rate data streams of 40 Gbit/s and 100 Gbit/s. Coherent systems ensure that the growing need for high speed and bandwidth will be met, and are actively being deployed.
What’s brownfield deployment?
That’s when you choose to deploy 40G/100G technologies over an existing, active network. This means that your system will have to cohabitate with the other existing signals. It’s the choice that requires the least investment and there’s no traffic interruption in setting up your service. However, you’ll need strong testing capabilities to ensure that there’s indeed no service disruption and that everything runs smoothly. The bottom line is that end-user quality of experience should not be negatively impacted.
What’s greenfield deployment?
Greenfield deployment as the name suggests is the activation of 40G/100G technologies on new network builds, over unused fiber (also known as dark fiber). The darker side of greenfield is the cost of building and acquiring new infrastructure and equipment. Before turning-up your brand new network, you’ll need to thoroughly pre-test everything and ensure that you’ll be delivering what you promised.
Surveys in the telecom industry concerning 40G/100G transition plans have shown that there’s a strong preference among Carriers for brownfield when it comes to deploying 40G/100G. In fact, for both metro and core networks, about two thirds of new coherent deployments are planned to be brownfield.
Whether greenfield or brownfield, you cannot leave out any gray area when it comes to your testing and troubleshooting capabilities. Each deployment strategy gives rise to its specific set of impairments that your technicians will have to tackle before and after you deploy.
