Multi-Terabit Optical Test Solution
A multi-terabit optical test solution is a complete laboratory system for generating, transmitting and analysing optical signals at the capacities of next-generation networks: many DWDM...
Multi-Terabit Optical Test Solution
Turnkey Multi-Terabit DWDM Transmission Test Platform — up to 1.4 Tb/s per Carrier and 200 Carriers, by ID Photonics
A multi-terabit optical test solution is a complete laboratory system for generating, transmitting and analysing optical signals at the capacities of next-generation networks: many DWDM channels, each carrying hundreds of gigabits to more than a terabit per second. It lets research and development teams test fibre links, amplifiers, ROADMs, transceivers and DSP under realistic, fully loaded conditions before deploying new network designs.
The Multi-Terabit Test Solution from ID Photonics GmbH, Germany, developed in collaboration with Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, is a fully validated turnkey platform supporting up to 1.4 Tb/s per carrier with 64QAM and up to 200 DWDM carriers. It is built from proven building blocks: narrow linewidth CoBrite tunable lasers in a high-density 19″ rack, OMFT IQ reference transmitters, PMUX polarisation-maintaining multiplexers, CORX coherent receivers, and partner instruments such as Keysight arbitrary waveform generators. ID Photonics designs, integrates and validates the complete system to each customer’s requirements.
United Spectrum Instruments is the official authorised distributor of ID Photonics in India, supporting customers from system definition through delivery, installation and after-sales technical support.
The ID Photonics Multi-Terabit Test Solution is a scalable, turnkey DWDM transmission test platform with up to 1.4 Tb/s per carrier and 200 carriers for next-generation optical network R&D — available in India through United Spectrum Instruments.
Understanding the Multi-Terabit Optical Test Solution
Why multi-terabit testing is needed
Optical networks are moving from 400G to 800G and 1.6T per wavelength, with flexible-grid channel plans, probabilistic shaping and C+L-band systems. A single transmitter and receiver can test one channel, but real network behaviour depends on how many channels interact: amplifier saturation and gain tilt, cross-phase modulation and other nonlinear effects, filtering through cascaded ROADMs, and crosstalk between neighbours. Measuring these effects requires a source that can fill the spectrum with realistic, high-capacity signals.
How the solution is built
A typical Multi-Terabit Test Solution combines several layers:
- Carrier generation — CoBrite MX narrow linewidth tunable lasers in a high-density 19″ rack, scalable to up to 200 carriers.
- Channel combining — PMUX polarisation-maintaining multiplexers that align the carriers into a comb for modulation, amplified where needed by PM EDFAs.
- Signal generation — OMFT dual-polarisation IQ reference transmitters driven by high-speed AWGs, creating the channels under test at up to 1.4 Tb/s each.
- Detection and analysis — CORX coherent receivers, real-time oscilloscopes, DSP software and an optical spectrum analyser for monitoring.
Turnkey and validated
What sets this solution apart is the system-level approach. Rather than supplying separate instruments for the customer to integrate, ID Photonics designs the optimum configuration for the test goals, integrates every building block, and validates the complete system before handover. Researchers can start experiments immediately instead of spending months on integration.
Scalable and modular
Because the platform is modular, a lab can begin with a smaller configuration, for example a few channels under test and a modest number of loading carriers, and expand towards the full 200-carrier, multi-terabit capability as projects grow.
Technical Specifications
System Capabilities
| Parameter | Specification |
| Maximum Data Rate per Carrier | Up to 1.4 Tb/s (64QAM) |
| Number of DWDM Carriers | Up to 200 |
| Carrier Lasers | Narrow linewidth CoBrite tunable lasers in a 19″ high-density laser rack |
| Modulation Formats | Any AWG-generated format, e.g. QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, probabilistically shaped |
| Channel Plans | Fixed ITU grid or flexible grid, customer defined |
| Architecture | Modular, scalable, customer-specific configuration |
| Delivery | Turnkey: designed, integrated and fully validated by ID Photonics |
| Developed With | Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute |
Typical Building Blocks
| Building Block | Role | Key Performance |
| CoBrite MX | Carrier lasers | Up to 48 lasers per mainframe; 25 kHz typical linewidth (N-type); C- and L-band |
| PMUX | Polarisation-maintaining channel combining | 50/100 GHz AWG or flexible-grid couplers; ~6 dB insertion loss; 20 dB typical PER |
| OMFT | Dual-polarisation IQ transmitter | Class 40/60/80, up to >80 GHz bandwidth and 170 GBaud |
| ID-ABC | Modulator bias control | Format-independent; ~45 s lock |
| PM EDFA | Polarisation-maintaining amplification | +13 to +30 dBm; single-channel or DWDM gain-flattened |
| CORX | Coherent detection | Class 20–80, up to 80 GHz bandwidth with built-in LO |
| ID OSA | Spectral monitoring | 2.5 pm resolution, C- or L-band |
| Partner instruments | Signal generation and capture | Keysight AWGs and real-time oscilloscopes; Fraunhofer HHI components |
Each Multi-Terabit Test Solution is configured to the customer’s test plan. Contact United Spectrum Instruments to define your system.
Key Features and Advantages
Up to 1.4 Tb/s per Carrier
Built around the OMFT reference transmitter, the solution generates single-carrier signals up to 1.4 Tb/s with 64QAM, covering today’s 800G systems and next-generation 1.6T research.
Up to 200 DWDM Carriers
Narrow linewidth CoBrite lasers in a high-density 19″ rack fill the spectrum with up to 200 carriers, enabling fully loaded transmission experiments that reproduce real network conditions.
Fully Validated Turnkey System
ID Photonics designs the configuration, integrates every instrument and validates the complete system before delivery. Your team receives a working platform rather than a box of parts to integrate.
Scalable Modular Design
Start with the channels and transmitters you need now and add laser cards, transmitters or receivers as requirements grow. Each building block is a standard ID Photonics product.
Flexible Formats and Channel Plans
Because signals are AWG-generated, any modulation format, symbol rate and channel plan, fixed or flexible grid, can be created and changed in software.
Polarisation-Maintaining Signal Chain
PM lasers, PMUX multiplexers and PM EDFAs keep the carrier comb aligned for uniform modulation, while format-independent bias control keeps every modulator at its optimum.
Best-in-Class Partner Instruments
The solution integrates ID Photonics instruments with partner equipment from Keysight and Fraunhofer HHI, combining the strongest available building blocks in one validated system.
Proven Research Heritage
Developed with Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, a leading European photonics research institute, the platform reflects more than a decade of joint work on multi-terabit coherent transmission.
Applications Across Industries
Next-Generation Optical Network R&D
Network equipment makers and operators use the Multi-Terabit Test Solution to evaluate new system designs for telecommunications and optical networks: 800G and 1.6T transponders, C+L-band line systems, flexible-grid plans and probabilistic shaping, under fully loaded conditions.
Long-Haul and Submarine Transmission Experiments
Combined with recirculating loops and fibre spans, the platform measures reach, OSNR margin and nonlinear tolerance of multi-terabit signals, informing long-haul and submarine system design.
Coherent DSP and Transceiver Validation
DSP and transceiver teams test receivers, including CORX reference receivers, against realistic multi-channel traffic to validate equalisation, carrier recovery and nonlinear compensation algorithms.
Amplifier, ROADM and Component Qualification
EDFAs, Raman amplifiers, ROADMs, wavelength-selective switches and other optical components are characterised under full spectral load, revealing gain dynamics and filtering penalties that single-channel tests miss.
Quantum and Classical Coexistence Studies
Researchers in quantum key distribution use multi-carrier classical traffic to study coexistence, Raman noise and crosstalk when quantum channels share fibre with high-capacity data.
Space, Defence and National Research Testbeds
National laboratories and programmes in satellite and space communication and defence and secure communication build shared multi-terabit testbeds for high-capacity optical network research.
University Centres of Excellence
Leading universities establish optical communication centres around the platform, giving students and researchers hands-on access to industry-class multi-terabit experiments.
Why Choose United Spectrum Instruments?
Official Authorised Distributor in India
United Spectrum Instruments is the authorised Indian distributor for ID Photonics, giving you direct access to the team that designs and validates the Multi-Terabit Test Solution.
System Definition Support
We work with your researchers to translate test goals into a configuration: number of carriers, channels under test, transmitter and receiver classes, bands and partner instruments, with a clear path for future expansion.
Experience with Indian Research and Industry
We work with IITs, CSIR laboratories, defence establishments, telecom companies and photonics start-ups across India and understand the procurement, documentation and approval processes for large research systems.
Delivery, Installation and Support
We coordinate delivery and installation anywhere in India and provide ongoing technical support for the complete system.
Every Building Block from One Partner
CoBrite lasers, OMFT transmitters, ID-ABC bias controllers, PMUX multiplexers, PM EDFAs, CORX receivers and ID OSA analysers are all available through us, simplifying procurement and support.
Contact Us
Phone: +91 93631 83748 / +91 97899 04948
Email: sales@unitedspectrum.in
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FAQs
What is the ID Photonics Multi-Terabit Test Solution?
It is a fully validated, turnkey optical transmission test platform developed by ID Photonics with Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute. It generates and analyses DWDM signals at up to 1.4 Tb/s per carrier and up to 200 carriers for next-generation network research.
What data rate per carrier does it support?
Up to 1.4 Tb/s per carrier with 64QAM, using OMFT dual-polarisation IQ reference transmitters driven by high-speed AWGs.
How many DWDM carriers can the system generate?
Up to 200 DWDM carriers, using narrow linewidth CoBrite tunable lasers in a high-density 19″ laser rack.
What equipment makes up the solution?
Typical building blocks include CoBrite MX lasers, PMUX polarisation-maintaining multiplexers, OMFT transmitters, ID-ABC bias controllers, PM EDFAs, CORX coherent receivers and ID OSA analysers, plus partner instruments such as Keysight AWGs and oscilloscopes.
Is the Multi-Terabit Test Solution a standard product?
No. It is configured to each customer’s test plan. ID Photonics designs the optimum configuration, integrates the instruments and fully validates the system before handover.
Can the system be expanded later?
Yes. Its modular design allows laser cards, transmitters and receivers to be added as requirements grow, from a small starting configuration up to full multi-terabit capability.
Which modulation formats and channel plans are supported?
Any format the AWGs can generate, such as QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM and probabilistically shaped signals, on fixed ITU or flexible-grid channel plans defined in software.
Who developed the Multi-Terabit Test Solution?
It was developed by ID Photonics GmbH, Germany, in collaboration with Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute in Berlin, building on more than a decade of joint coherent transmission research.
What is the system used for?
Typical uses include 800G and 1.6T system R&D, long-haul and submarine transmission experiments, coherent DSP validation, amplifier and ROADM qualification, quantum-classical coexistence studies and national research testbeds.
Who supplies the Multi-Terabit Test Solution in India?
United Spectrum Instruments, Chennai, is the authorised distributor of ID Photonics in India and supports customers from system definition through delivery, installation and technical support.
How do I start defining a Multi-Terabit Test Solution for my lab?
Contact United Spectrum Instruments through the Get in Touch form, at sales@unitedspectrum.in, or on +91 93631 83748 or +91 97899 04948. Share your research goals, target capacity and existing equipment, and we will propose a configuration.
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