AT&T completes 100-Gigabit Ethernet field trial with Cisco gear

AT&T announced on Thursday that it successfully completed a live network environment field trial of 100-Gigabit backbone network technology.

The trial is the latest step in AT&T's march toward next-gen network tech to support increasing data traffic as a result of growing Internet adoption and use.

AT&T conducted the standards-ready, single-flow, 100-Gigabit field test with Cisco's new CRS-3 Carrier Routing System. The carrier used Opnext 100 Gigabit CFP client side modules and Ixia's “K2” 100 Gigabit traffic generator and analyzer.

The trial also demonstrated a single-carrier 100-Gigabit transmission with real-time coherent processing on a 900-kilometer deployed ultra long-haul transport link between Louisiana and Florida using Opnext optical equipment.

In 2008, AT&T completed what it says was the world's largest deployment of 40-Gigabit network technology, the current standard. The company has since completed two lab trials of 100-Gigabit technology.

AT&T expects 100-Gigabit tech to be ready for commercial deployment "over the next few years."