The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approved a standard for 40 Gbps optical transmission. The standard -- ITU-T Recommendation G.959.1 -- increases the capacity for optical interfaces from the present maximum of 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps. The new standard targets two un-amplified link distances: the first is for lengths up to 40 km and the second for up to 80 km. Such interfaces would use a C-band wavelength of 1535-1565 nm and single mode optical fiber, as specified in ITU-T G.652, G.653 and G.655. The standard uses Forward Error Correction (FEC) techniques and adaptive chromatic dispersion compensators.
Peter Wery, Chairman of the ITU-T group responsible for the standard, said that historically "each fourfold increase in data speed has multiplied costs by just two and half times, leading to lower cost per bit. If this historical precedent holds true, 40 Gbps technology will reduce systems equipment costs by up to 40%."http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2003/29.html
- In July 2003, Deutsche Telekom began testing a purely optical transmission network operating at rates up to 40 Gbps.
