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WDM
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TO MAXIMISE
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR 5G SUCCESS
W
ith new technologies regularly
being rolled out for 5G – the fifth
generation of mobile networks
– operators can maximise their existing
infrastructure to meet customer demands
with waveguide division multiplexing
(WDM). This is according to ProLabs, a global
leader in optical networking infrastructure,
as telecom providers continue to prepare
their networks globally for the next wave of
wireless communication.
Marcel Fouché, Networking and Storage
General Manager at value-added distributor,
Networks Unlimited Africa, which distributes
ProLabs in sub-Saharan Africa, points
out that investing in new optical fibre
infrastructure is expensive, and many
operators are considering re-using passive
optical networks (PONS).
“ProLabs, however, suggests a better
option to maximise existing assets while
simultaneously planning for the future,
namely a combination of WDM and common
public radio interface (CPRI),” he said. “WDM
enables the operator to send more than one
data bit down the same fibre length at the
same time. It fully maximises existing optical
fibre infrastructure by adding multiple
wavelengths to send data across the same
fibre, increasing the rate of data transfer and
multiplying capacity.”
The new range of WDM transceivers from
ProLabs performs in environmental extremes
– its wavelength-stabilising technology can
endure temperatures from as low as –40°C
to as high as +85°C, making this an ideal
complement to existing fibre infrastructures.
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While the state has
delayed in allocating
both 4G and 5G radio
spectrum in South
Africa, local network
providers need to
plan now for their
networks’ future 5G
requirements.
As the country’s major mobile network
operators continue waiting for details
around the release of final radio frequency
spectrum allocation for both 4G and 5G
networks, Fouché notes that infrastructure
preparations still need to be made in
advance of the regulatory clarity.
“While the state has delayed in allocating
both 4G and 5G radio spectrum in South
Africa, local network providers need to
plan now for their networks’ future 5G
requirements,” he said. “From a practical
perspective, 5G will need more bandwidth
per cell. The use of WDM allows operators to
get the most out of current fibre networks
and deliver an increased capacity, while
the combination of CPRI will bring a major
increase in speed. This means that service
providers can use this offering across their
entire infrastructure.”