Alcatel-Lucent claims first commercially available 100Gbit/s switch

Big Japanese comms provider Softbank starts roll out

Enterprises can use 100Gbit/s platform for datacentre interconnectivity says Alcatel-Lucent

Networking giant Alcatel-Lucent has announced what it claims is the first commercially available 100Gbit/s capable switching platform.

The first customer for the technology is Japanese comms and media firm Softbank.

Speaking on a webcast Alcatel terrestrial optics VP Sam Bucci said, "Welcome to the 100Gbit era. This will lower total cost of ownership due to both its space and power efficiency, combined with its high performance, due to the high level of silicon integration."

"The key elements of our system are its performance – by way of reach, its high level of integration and silicon, lower cost and lower power consumption," said Bucci.

Alcatel-Lucent has added the new Next-Generation Coherent technology to its exsting 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) hardware.

The 1830 PSS platform can be scaled up to offer a bandwidth of 500Gbit/s per shelf or 1.5Tbit/s per bay [one Terabit per second is 1,000Gbit/s].

Bucci added that some of the enterprise applications which could need 100Gbit/s connectivity are, "datacentre interconnections requiring Tbit/s, connectivity, and routers which over time will require 100Gbit/s interfaces."

"In short we're announcing a commercially available 100Gbit/s platform, and with this we're addressing scalability and investment protection challenges that our customers have put in front of us," said Bucci.

The system is being showcased at the Interop Tokyo 2010 event.