The PSE-3 chipset is the first coherent digital signal processor that enables the implementation of Probabilistic Constellation Shaping (PCS), a pioneering modulation technique invented by Nokia Bell Labs. PCS pushes the transmission capacity of optical fiber almost to the Shannon limit, the maximum theoretical capacity of a communications channel (defined by Claude Shannon in 1948 while working as a researcher at Bell Labs).
By intelligently shaping the signal to adapt it to the characteristics of optical fiber, the PCS generates wavelengths that are more resistant to noise and other degrading interference, resulting in up to a 65 percent increase in the capacity of current networks and a 60 percent reduction in energy consumption per bit. Networks built with systems using the new chipset require up to 35 percent fewer optical transponders, and by leveraging the latent capacity of deployed fiber, the PSE-3 extends the lifespan of existing lines and submarine cables, providing significant long-term savings.
The chipset not only maximizes performance, but does so regardless of distance within the optical network, in both metropolitan and submarine environments. The PSE-3 is ideal for communications service providers and web-scale providers looking to extend the reach of their optical networks and increase the return on their fiber investments.
Furthermore, thanks to its powerful and easy-to-program capabilities, the PSE-3 presents a significant opportunity for network operators, enabling them to expand beyond the limited flexibility of today's prevalent 100G/200G networks and achieve networks with exceptional scalability and automation. The PSE-3 reverses the increasing complexity of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems by offering adjustable capacity from 100G to 600G with a single, uniform modulation format, data rate, and channel size. This greatly simplifies network planning and operation, while also significantly facilitating the implementation of dynamic operations, allowing operators to deploy innovative services and reduce costs.
Rajesh Singh, Managing Director of Procurement and Value Management at Spark New Zealand, commented: “Spark and Nokia have a close relationship, providing optical innovation in New Zealand and ensuring our network stays ahead of market demand. Building on the introduction of 100G transport in 2012 and 200G in 2017, the new PSE-3 technology powered by Nokia Bell Labs will enable Spark to plan for 400G and 1Tb services to support the significant traffic demands anticipated for 5G, video, enterprise services, and IoT. We are very excited about the world-leading capabilities of Nokia’s PSE-3 chipset, which will help us meet these demands while simultaneously reducing the cost per bit transported.”
Andrew Schmitt, founder and principal analyst at Cignal AI, says: “With the arrival of the new PSE-3, Nokia is taking a significant leap forward in the performance of high-quality coherent DSPs. PCS enables operators to achieve maximum spectral efficiency from their networks. This technology also improves performance across all distances and applications, making it ideal for meeting the needs not only of cloud service providers but also cable and other traditional providers.”
Sam Bucci, director of optical networks at Nokia, says, “This is a true milestone in terms of the capacity that optical networks can offer and the economic benefits they can generate. Photonic Service Engine 3 is the culmination of a decade of research and experimentation dedicated to building the world’s largest and highest-capacity optical networks. With the introduction of this remarkable yet simple programmability, our customers can maximize the capacity of every link in their network, whether it’s 100 km, 10,000 km, or more. Furthermore, they can keep costs under control while addressing the enormous bandwidth demands of video, cloud services, and, very soon, 5G communications.”
The PSE-3 will be part of Nokia's optical solutions portfolio and will include a new version of the 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect (PSI), a compact and modular WDM platform widely adopted by internet content providers for interconnecting high-capacity data centers. Based on a modular rack architecture, the 1830 PSI-M will offer high-performance, cost-optimized modules thanks to the PSE-3 and will be available in the third quarter of 2018.
