PTB Industry News

Lucent Technologies Launches
Fiberless Optical Networking System

MURRAY HILL, NJ, July 14 -- A new networking system from Lucent Technologies uses beams of light to transmit information directly through the air. Developed by Bell Labs, the WaveStar^TM OpticAir^TM system is designed to use DWDM technology to increase network capacity in metropolitan areas and campus environments where cost, geography, and other constraints might make fiber connections impractical. According to Lucent, the system's lasers, amplifiers, and receivers can be placed on rooftops or in office windows to transmit voice, data, or video traffic from point to point without fiber-optic cable.

"This high-capacity technology will give Lucent another optical solution to complement our fiber-based systems and our broadband-wireless-access offerings," said Gerry Butters, president of Lucent's Optical Networking Group. "We set out to bring the power of photons to network environments where deploying fiber is just not practical."

Lucent predicts that the WaveStar OpticAir system will eventually enable business customers and service providers to transmit up to 10 Gb/s of information between locations. At this rate, says the company, customers will be able to transmit the data contained on 15 CD-ROMS through the air in less than one second -- 65 times more data than with current radio frequencies. Potential applications for this high-speed transmission system include broadcast television, data transfers between banks, and transmission between gigabit Ethernet LANs. It could also be used to transmit data between high-rise office buildings and to enable naval ships to exchange large amounts of information while in port.

Implementing WaveStar OpticAir requires no spectrum licenses and the system is easily upgradable, says Lucent. Its modular design would enable carriers to grow their networks as capacity requirements rise. The company also says that WaveStar OpticAir will use "expanded-beam" lasers that meet all applicable safety requirements.

Global Crossing Ltd. will be the first to test the WaveStar OpticAir system, beginning field trials by December 1999.

"If our testing of the product meets expectations, it could offer a breakthrough method to help our global customers bypass local bottlenecks and offer leading-edge services," said Wally Dawson, senior vice president at Global Crossing.

The first release of the WaveStar OpticAir system -- supporting one wavelength at speeds up to 2.5 Gb/s -- is expected to be commercially available by March 2000. A four-wavelength version, with a maximum capacity of 10 Gb/s for distances up to 5 km, may be available by summer of 2000.