ATX Networks has launched GigaWave, a next-generation digital optical gateway platform that is designed to allow cable operators to expand the capacity of fibre access links between head ends/hubs and outside plant facilities in a ‘pay-as-you-grow’ model.
The Digital Link Extender 40 (DLX40) is the first product to be announced within the GigaWave platform. The 1RU DLX supports two DLX40 modules, each of which enables cable companies to cost-effectively aggregate up to 40 wavelengths (80 in total) across optical access links of up to 60km in length. The modular and futureproof GigaWave DLX provides cable operators with maximum flexibility by supporting Remote PHY (R-PHY) and Remote MACPHY (R-MACPHY) Distributed Access Architectures (DAA), as well as Passive Optical Network (PON), Small Cell/5G and enterprise business services.
The GigaWave DLX40, which had its official launch at ANGA COM in Cologne, also enables MSOs to leverage the advantages of digital optics over analogue, including transporting signals over longer distances, support for additional wavelengths and other benefits associated with deep fibre architectures.
The DLX modules are paired with the Digital Link Extender Remote (DLR), an all-passive, field-hardened unit that resides in the outside plant. The headend- or hub-located DLX integrates traditionally independent subsystems into a single solution, reducing power, operating cost and complexity, while enhancing reliability and operational simplicity. An additional benefit of the platform is that the built-in optical path redundancy support of the DLX and DLR eliminates the need for MSOs to double the number of switch/router interfaces for high-availability services.
The ATX GigaWave platform is technology agnostic and capable of supporting a variety of DWDM transport solutions across a number of fibre architectures, including non-redundant links and links longer than 100km. MSOs are deploying software-defined, distributed architectures to enable a variety of new services and increase network capacity. Deployments are scheduled to begin in the Autumn.