Play, a leading telecommunications operator and part of the iliad Group, has announced the successful deployment of Poland’s first ultra-high-capacity optical transmission using Ciena‘s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology.
The deployment achieved 1.2 terabits per second (Tb/s) across a 900km link between Gdansk and Poznan via Szczecin, setting a new national transmission record in Poland.
“Deploying WaveLogic 6 Extreme represents a major milestone for Play and positions us as the first operator in Poland to achieve this level of transmission capacity,” said Michał Ziółkowski, Chief Technology Officer at Play. “Ciena helps us offer the highest quality services while minimizing our network’s energy consumption. We can now optimize our fiber assets with the best spectral efficiency while preparing for future services and transfer demands.”
WL6e uses advanced 3nm digital signal processor (DSP) technology and ultra-high bandwidth electro-optics to deliver up to 1.6 Tb/s per wavelength. The solution doubles capacity within the same footprint compared to the previous technology generation, cutting power consumption per bit by 50% and preparing the network for future 800G services.
“Play’s achievement demonstrates how operators are using our latest optical innovations to break new ground in network performance,” said Anders Grand, Vice President of EMEA Sales at Ciena. “This deployment in Poland is one example of WL6e’s ability to deliver unprecedented capacity across long distances while reducing power consumption, helping Play maintain its competitive edge in the market.”
The deployment builds on PLAY’s existing Ciena 6500 photonic infrastructure, which currently runs WaveLogic 5 Extreme technology.
Play is a leading operator in the Polish telecommunications market and part of the iliad Group, a dynamically growing European telecoms group headquartered in Paris. The company sets the pace in digital services and, despite its strong market position, continues to challenge the status quo with its innovative approach.
Play provides services to more than 13.3 million mobile customers and 2 million households, offering fiber-optic internet, TV services. It is also the most frequently chosen network in mobile number portability. Additionally, half of Poland’s largest enterprises rely on Play’s services. The company’s history stands as one of the strongest examples of effective organic growth in the Polish market.
