Turkcell picks ZTE to deploy 12THz WDM system

ZTE Corporation, a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the mobile internet, in partnership with Turkcell, has deployed the industry's first commercial Optical Transport Network (OTN) supporting 12THz ultra-wide frequency spectrum in Bursa, the fourth largest city in Turkey.

The network will bring greater bandwidth capacity to Turkey, allowing Turkcell's subscribers to enjoy high-speed internet access.

As 5G network requires bandwidth several times higher than 4G network to cope with the explosive growth of 5G network traffic, Turkcell decided to build an advanced metro WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) network. In July 2021, Turkcell exclusively selected ZTE to build its metro WDM network in Bursa.

For the WDM network, ZTE has provided its powerful OTN platform based on 1T backplane bandwidth, which substantially increases the network transmission capacity. At the same time, ZTE has preset 2 bands (C+L bands) coupler on the metro WDM network to help Turkcell implement quick and smooth upgrades to multi-band and offer the future bandwidth capacity improvement by 200% compared with the original (standard 80 channel C band), thereby seamlessly meeting the future data network bandwidth demands of Turkcell without service interruption.

In addition, ZTE offers multiple protection mechanisms, such as integrated SNCP (Subnetwork Connection Protection) with WASON (WDM Automatic Switch Optical Network), to make network more intelligent. Meanwhile, ZTE employs CDC-F (Colorless, Directionless, Contentionless and Flexgrid) ROADM solution, which greatly improves the wavelength flexibility, reduces the stress on equipment boards, and simplifies the Operation and Maintenance.

Netas provides the project service for the WDM project.

The successful commercial 12THz WDM project will speed up the future 5G network development of Turkcell in Turkey.

ZTE pays close attention to the development of networks as well as core demands of operators, and keeps leading position in telecom technologies. Moving forward, ZTE will partner with Turkcell to make continuous innovations and realize the network digitalization in Turkey.