AT&T confirms testing of 400Gbps Ethernet connection

AT&T said it tested 400 Gbps Ethernet (400GbE) using live traffic on the operator's network between New York and Washington.

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"A software-defined networking (SDN) controller created a service along a direct path between the two cities and rerouted the service to a second path through software control to simulate a response to a network failure," AT&T said.

The test essentially represents the final phase of a three-part 400GbE trial that AT&T originally proposed last year. The company had said the final test would take place early this year and would use Coriant's optical equipment to deliver long-distance 400GbE service over AT&T's global backbone network from New York to Washington.

AT&T said its 400GbE trials will help customers stream more high-quality video.

AT&T noted that these tests lay the foundation for the second and third phases of its 400GbE test series. The second phase will transmit a 400GbE end-to-end service over AT&T's OpenROADM metro network; and the third phase "will test the first instance of the 400GbE open router platform."

Of course, AT&T isn’t the only operator conducting 400GbE trials. Just last week, Acacia Communications, Optelian, Precise-ITC, Spirent and Xilinx all said they plan to demonstrate industry-leading interoperability in the technology, supporting 200GbE and 400GbE connections, during OFC 2017 in Los Angeles this week.