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Optiblue Inc. introduced a new reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) platform named CoreBridge3200.

Telecom operators worldwide are deploying ROADM products in their networks because ROADM has been known to be better in terms of CapEx and OPEX savings than the legacy optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) with fixed wavelength allocation. Once OADM is rolled out in the field, it is very difficult to change the network configuration or traffic patterns because the legacy OADM comprises fixed filters for demultiplexing and add/dropping. In most cases, therefore, the reconfiguration of an OADM network requires the time and efforts of experienced technicians.

A ROADM network, by contrast, solves these issues because it can be configured repeatedly without any manual intervention or dispatching of technicians to ROADM equipment sites. As such, ROADM networks lead to both capex and opex savings.

However, the original purpose of ROADM has not been met as the key optical devices, including wavelength selective switches (WSS) and wavelength blockers (WB) are still expensive to lead to capex savings. Even though a WSS-based ROADM helps save opex, there are no more capex savings than the conventional OADM.

Optiblue claims it has designed the CoreBridge 3200 as the first ROADM platform to provide both capex and opex savings at the same time. The CoreBridge 3200 can be deployed at the same price of the legacy OADM because it does not use WSS technology but provides all the functionality that operators have come to expect from a ROADM.

Optiblue uses AWGs- arrayed waveguide grating instead of WSS. By allocating two wavelengths per one point-to-point connection and using the conventional AWG and coupler combination, CoreBridge 3200 could do all things of ROADM.

In addition to the full set of ROADM features such as non-blocking switching, remote re-configuring, and automatic one-click path searching, the CoreBridge3200 provides interfaces from 100 Mbits/sec to 40 Gbits/sec, enabling a range of services from Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10-Gigabit Ethernet, SONET, etc. The maximum capacity of transport is 1.28 Tbits/sec (32 wavelengths x 40 Gbits/sec), and the maximum reach without 3R is up to 560 km over the conventional optical fiber.