3/5/2007 -- Many of you are probably already comfortable with your 10 Gbps pipes, but 40 Gbps is just on the horizon -- and 100 Gbps is just beyond that.

Late last month, Israeli telecommunications specialist ECI Telecom Ltd. announced what it claims is the industry's first successful demonstration of 43 Gbps transmission over 1,000 km via a 50 GHz-channel-spaced WSS ROADM.

ECI says its successful demonstration paves the way for migrations from 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps channels and increases the wavelength capacity of its platform to roughly 3.2 Tbps of transport capacity. That's a big pipe. But can anyone realistically exploit it? You'd better believe it, says Jason Marcheck, a principal analyst for optical infrastructure with consultancy Current Analysis.

"Without question, the need to move beyond 10 Gbps wavelengths in metro core and regional networks is on the horizon," he comments. "ECI's demonstration shows that the company is taking steps to make its XDM product line ready to meet demand when it occurs." At the same time, Marcheck conedes, ECI didn't disclose when its 40G capabilities will be ready for prime time, and "with 100GbE technologies in the development stages and standards bodies already, 40G might have a narrow window of opportunity."

Marcheck says the demonstration is an important coup for ECI, which has mostly targeted smaller Tier 1 and Tier 2 carriers -- which are unlikely to be early adopters of 40G capabilities. As a result, it could help the company gain a foothold in larger, more demanding customer accounts. "ECI is continuing to build its case for having one of the most technologically advanced metro ROADM solutions on the market," Marcheck notes, citing that vendor's 10 degree WSS, in addition to its 40G capabilities. "If carriers, many of whom are still deploying 2.5G and 10G wavelengths in metro platforms, decide that ECI's offer is a bit too forward looking, they might shun the platform in favor of a competing product that can put forth a less intimidating migration story."

Then there's the 100G threat. "At the opposite end of the spectrum, ECI's latest development also faces threats from vendors that propose using Nx10G wavelength schemes that can bridge the gap between today and the time when 100 GbE technologies are ready for commercial deployment," he concludes, noting that some authorities expect 100G solutions to be available by 2010.

Adds Marcheck: "Although 100 GbE is clearly in the early stages -- with Siemens only recently announcing transmissions of a few hundred km -- the fact remains that by the time demand for 40G wavelengths ramps up in metro/regional networks, Nx10G technologies might provide enough of a bridge that will entice operators to forgo 40G altogether in favor of waiting for 100 GbE." -- Stephen Swoyer