Xtera Launches Optical Repeater for Subsea Cable Systems (France)

Xtera Communications, Inc., a leading global provider of optical networking solutions, today announced the launch of a next-generation optical repeater for subsea cable systems.

This enhances Xtera’s well-established portfolio of solutions for subsea cable systems, putting Xtera in a position to offer a range of elements on a full turnkey basis that will allow service providers to build high performance and highly reliable submarine cable systems with significantly improved reach and capacity.

A modular optical design allows the amplifiers to be tailored to different system requirements, with variants covering both short regional systems and very long transoceanic systems; another variant offers an optical bandwidth extending well beyond the normal EDFA C-band. Powering is also improved, with high efficiency drivers allowing the line current to be tuned to close to the optimum, thus reducing the overall voltage. The overall design enables a simplified manufacturing process, while still maintaining a very strong focus on reliability and value. The repeater is constructed from marine grade titanium, resulting in a very light and exceptionally strong unit that can be deployed to water depths of 8 km. It is also sufficiently small that it can pass directly through a plough during burial operations – making it easier to handle during laying and assembling.

The extensive design and qualification program for the repeater has involved the advice and collaboration of recognized industrial partners and highly experienced purchasers of submarine systems, one of whom provides formal auditing of the process.

“With this modular product Xtera can better optimize the design of subsea cable systems and address the need for higher capacity per fiber with wider optical bandwidth,” said Stuart Barnes, CTO Submarine Systems of Xtera. “We had the advantage of not having to evolve an existing design and have been able to find modern solutions to old problems, for example improving electrical to optical power conversion. The new repeater adds nicely to Xtera’s turnkey solutions for building new subsea cable systems or upgrading the wet plant of existing systems.”

Xtera’s new repeater will be shown at the SubOptic 2013 event (22-25 April 2013).

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Press Release, April 22, 2013