The researchers on this project have finally achieved an unprecedented Internet connection speed capacity and even more so spectral efficiency, while performing an optical communication ‘field trial’. This new breakthrough in their research may even possibly extend the full capability of several optical networks in order to properly acquire the surging data of heavily traffic demands.
A few companies have merged together, accomplishing their achievement of reaching these unprecedented transmission capacity speeds and spectral efficiency, while operating in the optical communications field trial. This is completed by their new “Modulation Technique”.
While in this field trial, Nokia Bell Labs, Deutsche Telekom T-Labs, as well as the TU Munich has provided us with a preview expressing the flexibility and extreme performances of utilizing the optical networks. These teams have been able to successfully maximize their speeds when they adjusted the standard transmission rates. Once adjusted to fit their desired needs, they transmission rates are now dynamically adapted into new channel conditions, as well as other traffic demands. This project is a part of the SASER (Safe and Secure European Routing). This experiment was able to reach a new net transmission rate of an outstanding one terabit, while being deployed over an optical fiber network provided by Deutsche Telekom.
This project is the closest thing to the theoretical maximized information transfer rate with this channel. And ultimately, the researchers may have approached the Shannon Limit on the fiber cable link. Shannon Limit was originally discovered back in 1984, by researcher Claude Shannon. Shannon was a Bell Labs researcher and pioneer and has been named “Father of Information Theory.”
This trial of this new novel modulation approach, in which is known as the Probabilistic Constellation Shaping (PCS), utilizes the QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) to perform the achievement of faster Internet transmission capacity while going over a specific channel. This is able to significantly provide an improvementon the spectral efficiency of existing optical communications sources.
The PCS states that the modifications of this fiber connection are probably within the constellation points – which is the known alphabet on the transmission – that is utilized during the field test. Traditionally speaking, every single constellation point is supposed to be used within the exact same frequency. However, PCS has also utilized such constellation points that would provide them with a higher amplitude with less frequently that what we can normally expect to see with the lesser amplitude, in order to transmit signals.
About fifty years ago, the optic fiber was introduced to the general public. With that, there are hopes of achieving a “5G-Wireless” technology just beyond the horizon. The optical systems that we can see in use today, will continue to constantly grow and advance as years go by, assisting in the telecommunications operators, as well as meeting enterprises with steady network data traffic.
PCS is now taking part of the new evolution by allowing the increases inside of the optical fiber flexibility, as well as performance in which will then allow the movement of data traffic much faster over longer distances. This can also be accomplished without having to increase the existing optical network complexity.
Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, the directory of Technology at Telekom Deutschland and the CTO of Deutsche Telekom states “Increased capacities, reach and flexibility over deployed fiber infrastructures.’ As he talks about the transmitting data on a faster level with the unparalleled flexibility. He continues saying ‘Deutsche Telekom provides a unique network infrastructure to evaluate and demonstrate such highly innovative transmission technologies for example. Furthermore, it also supports higher layer test scenarios and technologies.”
“Information theory is the mathematics of digital technology, and during the Claude E. Shannon centenary year 2016 it is thrilling to see his ideas continue to transform industries and society,” professor Gerhard Kramer stated. Mr. Kramer is the head of the Institute for Communications Engineering located at the Technical University of Munich.
“Probabilistic constellation shaping, an idea that won a Bell Labs Prize, directly applies Shannon’s principles and lets fiber optic systems transmit data faster, further, and with unparalleled flexibility,” added Kramer. “The success of the close collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs, who further developed the technology, and Deutsche Telekom T-Labs, who tested it under real conditions, is satisfying confirmation that TUM Engineering is a label of outstanding quality, and that TUM teaching gives our students the intellectual tools to compete, succeed and lead globally.”
The president of Nokia Bell Labs, as well as Nokia CTO, Marcus Weldon, once said “Future optical networks not only need to support orders of magnitude higher capacity, but also the ability to dynamically adapt to channel conditions and traffic demand. Probabilistic Constellation Shaping offers great benefits to service providers and enterprises by enabling optical networks to operate closer to the Shannon Limit to support massive datacenter interconnectivity and provide the flexibility and performance required for modern networking in the digital era.”
Sources: Nokia Bell Labs, Deutsche Telekom T-Labs, TU Munich, MIT (Shannon Limit), Light Wave Online (PCS).
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