Page 51 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

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Nokia Demos Voice-Based Network Capabilities

Nokia Bell Labs showcased Natural- these networks will allow service providers which it explained would “redefine network
Language Networks, a proof-of-concept to deliver and maintain the ideal network software and systems the same way UNIX
enabling networks to be operated configuration for any customer the moment reshaped computing” by “evolving the
through speech or text prompts, in what it it is requested.” The networks continuously network itself into an operating system”.
claimed was a step towards autonomous learn from their actions to optimize set-ups Csaba Vulkan, network systems automation
capabilities. It stated Natural-Language based on each new request Nokia Bell Labs research leader for Nokia Bell Labs, stated
Networks use verbal or text inputs to stated the networks would understand the Natural-Language Networks would remove
automatically allocate network resources, intention of users “and have the intelligence the need for operators to “explore technical
a feature Nokia said will make it easier to act upon them autonomously”. Natural- catalogues or complex API descriptions
to manage infrastructure and respond to Language Networking is a component of when they configure networks”.
changing requirements. “By leveraging AI, UNEXT, a Nokia Bell Labs research initiative

Nokia Bell Labs Breaks Submarine Transmission Speed Record

Nokia announced it has set two new world
records in submarine optical transmission,
both of which will shape the next generation
of optical networking equipment. The
first sets a new optical speed record for
transoceanic distances. Nokia Bell Labs
researchers were able to demonstrate an
800-Gbps data rate at a distance of 7865
km using a single wavelength of light.
That distance is two times greater than
what current state-of-the-art equipment
can transmit at the same capacity and is
approximately the geographical distance
between Seattle and Tokyo. Nokia Bell
Labs achieved this milestone at its optical
research testbed in Paris-Saclay, France.
The second record was achieved by both
Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia subsidiary or “blinks”. Higher baud rates mean higher networks can take advantage of next-
Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), data throughput and will allow future generation higher-baud-rate transceivers
establishing a net throughput of 41 Tbps optical systems to transmit the same to boost their performance and increase
over 291 km via a C-band unrepeated capacities per wavelength over far greater their long-term viability. Sylvain Almonacil,
transmission system. C-band unrepeated distances. In the case of transoceanic Research Engineer at Nokia Bell Labs,
systems are commonly used to connect systems, these increased baud rates will said: “With these higher baud rates, we can
islands and offshore platforms to each double the distance at which we could directly link most of the world’s continents
other and the mainland proper. The transmit the same amount of capacity, with 800 Gbps of capacity over individual
previous record for these kinds of systems allowing us to efficiently bridge cities on wavelengths. Previously, these distances
is 35 Tbps over the same distance. Nokia opposite sides of the Atlantic and Pacific were inconceivable for that capacity.
Bell Labs and ASN broke the record at oceans. In the case of C-band unrepeated Furthermore, we’re not resting on our
ASN’s research testbed facility, also in systems, higher baud would allow service achievement. This world record is the next
Paris-Saclay. Nokia Bell Labs and ASN providers connecting islands or off-shore step toward next-generation Terabit-per-
presented the scientific findings behind platforms to achieve higher capacities with second submarine transmissions over
both records on the 4th and 5th of October fewer transceivers and without the addition individual wavelengths.” Hans Bissessur,
at the European Conference on Optical of new frequency bands. The research Unrepeated Systems Group leader at ASN,
Communications (ECOC), held in Glasgow, behind these two records will have said: “These research advances show that
Scotland. Nokia Bell Labs and Alcatel significant impact on the next generation that we can achieve better performance
Submarine Networks were able to achieve of submarine optical transmission over the existing fiber infrastructure.
both world records through the innovation systems. While future deployments of Whether these optical systems are
of higher-baud-rate technologies. “Baud” submarine fiber will take advantage of crisscrossing the world or linking the
measures the number of times per second new fiber technologies like multimode islands of an archipelago, we can extend
that an optical laser switches on and off, and multicore, the existing undersea fiber their lifespans.”

51 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023