NBN Co: 26Tbps record proves fibre right
Summary: The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) has heralded the results of a German experiment that achieved a record data transfer rate of 26 terabits per second (Tbps) over a single fibre optic cable, stating that this demonstrates the longevity of the technology.
The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) has heralded the results of a German experiment that achieved a record data transfer rate of 26 terabits per second (Tbps) over a single fibre optic cable, stating that this demonstrates the longevity of the technology.
(PC010094 image by Bill Burris, CCBY-SA 2.0)
Researchers from Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology revealed on Sunday that they had successfully transmitted the equivalent of 200,000 high-resolution images, 400 million phone calls or 700 DVDs across 50km in one second.
This was achieved by using a single laser to create a number of pulses known as "frequency combs" that are each separated by a wavelength of 12.5GHz. These were then compacted into 325 colour channels using a method of Fourier transform before being sent down the fibre optic cable.
There have been concerns that fibre optic technology may be outdated by the network's completion in 2020. However, NBN Co's chief technology officer, Gary McLaren, said that the results of the test showed that the decision to have NBN Co roll out fibre to 93 per cent of the population was the right call.
"The amount of data people are transferring across communications networks, especially video transmissions, is increasing all the time. As fibre optic technology improves, so too will speeds and the amount of data that can be carried over the network we are building today," he said. "This gives us confidence that we're delivering the right communications infrastructure to sustain our nation for decades to come."
Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.
Talkback
http://www.news.com.au/technology/shock-jock-impressed-by-laser-speed-breakthrough/story-e6frfro0-1226062824273
ha these anti-NBN crusaders really are clowns... just lol.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/shock-jock-impressed-by-laser-speed-breakthrough/story-e6frfro0-1226062824273
ha these anti-NBN crusaders really are clowns... just lol.
So either alain/advocate gets all his info from AJ or he is in fact AJ...!
Few (any?) have an issue with the backbone buildout... and that's what this article is really about, a capability more appropriate for the backbone/trunk purposes.
The contentious issue is installing fibre into 10 million homes (that's about 6000 per workday over 7 years), when existing technologies meet the reqts just fine with expansion and improvements, and the new wireless solutions now rolling out.... at much less cost.
Oh you mean the simple home users that make up 75%+ of home users population that will get FTTH. As I have said previously, FTTH is an overkill for the majority of users, who may never use the features of FTTH, particularly as other alternative technologies improve.
(btw sounds like you are easily offended.)
That makes no sense.. these days everyone's a politician! When the LTE-A specification was released (for 1Gbps) NBNCo didn't come out and say - we made a mistake.
What people should be focussing on is the economics not the technology. Economics say we need demand for the product, economics say that people want it the same or cheaper than today's products. Economics say we'll need to pay back the capital cost of the NBN.
It doesn't matter if scientists are sending petabits through fibre, we need a prudent path to fibre. And I believe a sudden jump to fibre at top dollar is not prudent. The current plan is unaffordable.
Anyone who has worked in data communications in a professional capacity knows you don't design a network just for today. You design in growth for years to come. That's what fibre is all about. Capacity for today and also a significant time into the future.
Define top dollar.
"The current plan is unaffordable."
Based on what?
Josh Taylor
I highly doubt it will achieve those speeds when Centrelink, Medicare and 80% of the country are on it, all using it at the same time.
That's what happens now...D'oh!
If the agency is Canberra-centric it may be using its own fibre (on a campus), ICON, T, O or PowerTel, in which case little or no change.
If they have a WAN with CBD sites around the country they'll probably be using T, O or PowerTel, etc fibre, again little change.
However if they have outer suburban or regional sites they'll probably be moving to NBN fibre, using T, O or PowerTel as the provider.
The 'tech heads' get all excited and now thinks this validates NBN Co????
Fibres still have a finite lifetime before replacement. Most of us know you can send a truck load of data down it. The question is really "is FTTP financial viable" by the government at the moment. And the answer is "no".