Telstra successfully trialed a 1.2Tbps wavelength over 700km on Telstra’s Aura Network at 8.6bit/sec/Hz Spectral Efficiency with Cisco’s NCS 1014 multi-haul compact modular platform, Acacia’s Coherent Interconnect Module 8 and NCS 1010 Open Line System. The trial also validated a range of 400G and 800G Cisco coherent pluggable optics in both optical and IP platforms, demonstrating the flexibility of Cisco’s portfolio operating on the Aura Network, giving Telstra and their customers a broad set of deployment options to optimize capacity, reach, operational simplicity and of delivering transport capacity.
The results also validate the Aura Network’s Ultra-Low-Loss fibre design as a strong foundation for next-generation intercity connectivity and provides Telstra with greater flexibility to support growing bandwidth demand from customers, Hyperscalers, Neoclouds and data-centre ecosystems.
“This trial demonstrates the strength of Telstra’s Aura Network as a platform for next-generation optical services,” said Telstra’s Fixed Engineering Executive, Sanjay Nayak. “By validating high-capacity, coherent performance across different optical architectures and form factors, we can better match performance, reach and cost to the needs of our customers.”
“We are pleased to have worked with Telstra to validate Cisco coherent technology on the Aura Network,” said Bill Gartner, SVP/GM, Optical Systems & Optics Cisco. “The results show how high-performance coherent optics can support flexible, power-efficient and scalable long-haul network designs.”
Why this matters for Telstra and its customers
- Supports scalable intercity capacity growth across long-haul routes where bandwidth demand continues to increase.
- Improves technology flexibility by validating transponder-based and router-hosted coherent optics over the Aura Network.
- Strengthens Telstra’s ability to match performance, reach and cost to different service and customer requirements.
- Demonstrates that the Aura Network is capable of supporting future network evolution, including Routed Optical Networking models where appropriate.
Telstra Trial Architecture Leverages High Performance and Power Optimized Cisco Coherent Technology
The trial also included Cisco’s 800G ZR+ C band coherent pluggables hosted in a Cisco 8711 router to deliver an incredible 7.5 watts per 100G equivalent capacity end-to-end. Cisco’s 400G Ultra Long Haul (ULH) coherent pluggable closed at 6.1bit/sec*Hz with more than 3dB q-margin, demonstrating the ability of the 400G ULH pluggable to close significantly longer routes than available in the trial topology.
The successful trial reinforces the Aura Network’s role as a scalable platform for high-capacity intercity connectivity. By validating both traditional transponder-based and Routed Optical Networking approaches, Telstra is building the technology flexibility and adaptability needed to support future customer demand, improve capacity economics and accelerate service innovation across Australia’s long-haul network.
Contributors:
Telstra: David Nicolas; Steven Jiang; Miled Abdulnour; Stuart Moon
Cisco: Daniel Clark
