NTT Com deploys 100 Gbps digital coherent technology on transpacific submarine cable

NTT Communications (NTT Com) has announced a world-first deployment of 100 Gbps digital coherent technology on a transpacific submarine cable system linking the US and Japan. The deployment increases the design capacity of the company’s PC-1 system by more than 2.5 times to 8.4 terabits per second, effective immediately.

In response to the rapid growth of data traffic, NTT Com demonstrated 100 Gbps optical transmission using digital coherent technology on its US-Japan route in 2011. Initially, the company found it difficult to provide stable 100 Gbps communication over long distances, due to the characteristics of light.

By optically optimising the PC-1’s network architecture, including with strategically placed optical repeaters and an enhanced optical fibre layout, NTT Com says it has achieved the world’s first commercial deployment of 100 Gbps digital coherent technology on a transpacific route.

NTT Com says that by the end of 2014, 100 Gbps optical transmission technology will also be deployed in its Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE), which links major cities in Asia via the shortest possible route for industry-leading low latency.

The PC-1 optical submarine cable, the shortest transpacific link, is operated by PC Landing Corp, an NTT Com group company. The 21,000 km cable is configured in a ring-topology network with landing stations in Japan and the United States.