High Data-Rate OESCLU-Band Transmission

Abstract

We combine 6 doped-fiber amplifiers (O-(x2), E-, S-, C-, L-bands) with discrete Raman U-band amplifiers and distributed Raman-amplification to transmit in each of the low-loss transmission bands of a standard optical fiber. For transmission distances up to 100 km, we explore ultra-wideband transmission of up to 1505 x 25 GHz spaced channels covering the O-, E-, S-, C-, L- and U-bands from 1281.2 nm to 1649.9 nm. After describing the amplifier and spectrum flattening technology, we first characterize the transceiver in back-to-back configuration. Then, for 50 km transmission, we report a record aggregate transmission bandwidth of 37.6 THz with a data-rate of 402.2 Tb/s, estimated from GMI, and 378.9 Tb/s after FEC decoding. 100 km transmission allows a 36.6 THz bandwidth with 339 Tb/s GMI estimated data-rate and 322.8 Tb/s decoded data-rate. These results show the potential of ultra-wideband transmission covering the low-loss window of silica fibers as well as the challenges of building such system on longer fiber spans.