Spark completes roll-out of the first phase of a new generation network
Spark NZ has completed the roll-out of the first phase of its new generation Optical Transport Network (OTN 2.0). It's now ready for Spark's wholesale customers to purchase and benefit from the network's optical restoration capability.
Three diverse routes on the OTN 2.0 network can now be utilised; South of Auckland through the centre of the North Island, East and West coast of the North Island and unique diverstiy options across the Cook Strait cable to Nelson and Blenheim, continuing down to Christchurch.
What is Optical Restoration?
OTN 2.0 is based on the same technical principles as Spark’s existing OTN. It deploys light signals of different colours, each carrying a high-speed data stream, in fibre-optic cables across the country. OTN 2.0 increases the speed of the data streams from the current 100Gbps per colour to 400 to 800Gbps (depending on distance) per colour.
As the demand for data grows, OTN 2.0 ensures capacity is available now, and is prepared to support future demand for 400Gbps Ethernet services.
Optical restoration is initiated if a major network fault (such as a fibre cut) is detected by the network software. If a fault is detected the software will autonomously change the path of affected light signals to bypass the network fault and restore services via the next best available option. The time to move a light signal to a restoration path varies but we indicate it to be between three and 15 minutes.
Where is the Optical Restoration capability available?
Only services that have been migrated to the OTN 2.0 network will be restorable.
These services are now available on the following paths:
NORTH ISLAND:
Central: Auckland, Morrinsville, Tokoroa, Palmerston North, Wellington
West: Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Levin, Porirua
East: Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington
COOK STRAIT:
Cook Strait West: Levin, Nelson
Cook Strait East: Wellington, Blenheim
SOUTH ISLAND:
Central: Porirua to Christchurch Airport Data Centre
West: Nelson to Riccarton via Greymouth
East: Blenheim to Christchurch via the Kaikoura Coast. Christchurch South via Dunedin to Invercargill.
For other sites, please contact your Business Manager.
