Cable Forum - Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

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Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pogo stick (Post 34546759)

The distance between London and Manchester in optical fibre kms is way more than the straight line distance. VM Core Network optical fibre does not follow motorway routes but generally goes via A roads but in places it also routes round residential areas. Thus the 'fibre distance' between cities bears no relationship to straight line or fastest driven route distance. If you look at the route on a map it's a bit like having a really crap sat nav!

Or according to some of the posts on this forum Virginmedia is like your Satnav.

Thanks for the response.

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraxData (Post 34546440)

Virgin Media is to carry out trials on its networks

BT rival Virgin Media has trialled a 40Gbit/s live network connection over a 217 mile span of its existing 10Gbit/s backbone from Manchester to London.

Virgin Media said that the trial would be used to demonstrate whether it would be economically viable to both optimise existing optical network assets and scale the network upwards so that it offers high data transmission rates.

The firm's technical architecture director Daniel Hennessy said that the aim of the trial was to continue to meet the growing capacity needs of the high-speed services needed to service Virgin Media customers, "Our strategic suppliers have demonstrated very clearly how existing network assets can be scaled to meet the growth in demand associated with evolving customer behaviour.”

The trial used Nortel Networks’ 40G Adaptive Optical Engine dense wavelength division multiplex (DWDM) transponder cards, terminating on Juniper Networks T-series routers which had 40Gbit/s interfaces.

http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/news/...-trials-40gbit

i find this 40 Gig test rather odd TD given the really old news now (the old April 2nd 2007 )on the original 50Mbit thread, now if it were the new 100Gig kit being tested that might seem far more interesting.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...l#post34476302

""
Quote:
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Juniper Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:JNPR) today announced that the Virgin Media Group, the UKÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢€™s largest cable operator, has deployed Juniper Networks T-series core routers, including the multi-terabit TX Matrix, to upgrade its IP backbone network.

As a central component of the Virgin Media next-generation IP network architecture, the T-series will enable the delivery of bandwidth-intensive multiplay services such as IPTV, video on demand and voice over IP.

The agile and open core network will also facilitate and simplify the integration of many new customers and network assets, which are joining Virgin Media as the result of the merger between ntl, Virgin Mobile and Telewest Global in 2006.

More at:
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...86&newsLang=en
"
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/s...86&newsLang=en
"
...
Virgin Media provides high quality digital TV, Internet and telephone services to nearly 3 million subscribers throughout the UK.

In addition to supporting all of its own broadband customers, Virgin Media also leases capacity on its core network to several of the UK’s leading ISPs, so the Juniper Networks T-series will be supporting an expansive network capable of delivering Internet-based communications services to more than 12 million UK homes (more than 50 percent of the total households in the UK), and 85 percent of UK businesses.

“Service reliability, throughput speed and scalable capacity are the main criteria that will enable a successful roll-out of next-generation network services in both the immediate future and in the long term,” said Rob Sim, Head of Network Architecture at Virgin Media. “We wanted to put support for 40G in place now, and both the T640 and TX Matrix platforms from Juniper enable us to support 40G as soon as needed.

Also, as the capacity demands on our network grow, we can easily upgrade the T640 to TX Matrix as required, whilst maintaining both operational and service consistency without an operating system change.”
...
"

---------- Post added at 00:52 ---------- Previous post was at 00:40 ----------

perhaps Rob Sim Head of Network Architecture at Virgin Media was more forward thinking than the current? Daniel Hennessy of VM technical architecture director ?

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

From what i recall they didnt want to test the 100gig kits as it was WAY out of their price range, VM are working with a very small budget for upgrades!

It has made me wonder how the network is going to handle the load of 50mbit/20mbit on pre-docsis3 tier with such a crappy infrastructure.

But i guess that's why they are giving crap upload ratios yet again.

I can honestly see VM just dying off over the next few years if they dont play it right.

Personally i think this 50mbit situation has only been brought up to look good to shareholders and possible buyers.

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorHannant (Post 34546667)

Forgive the technically challenged part of me but IF this is rolled out, what does this mean to the home customer as opposed to the customer that is Virgin Media?

What sort of speed increases will this make available? Upload and download I assume?

Anyone?

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

It means the network will be able to carry more load (thats if im understanding it correctly) and not the consumer getting 40 Gb

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb (Post 34552183)

It means the network will be able to carry more load (thats if im understanding it correctly) and not the consumer getting 40 Gb

Yep bang on :tu:

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

10gbit seems very small backhaul for an isp of VMs size it must be close to been saturated at the moment.

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrysalis (Post 34552432)

10gbit seems very small backhaul for an isp of VMs size it must be close to been saturated at the moment.

I am pretty sure they using more than 1x10 gig backhaul route :)

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

Bigger backhauls have to be a good thing. I dread to think what the mobile providers currently have from their base stations, but it must be pretty poor in comparison!

Re: Virgin Media trials 40Gbit/s connections in the UK

I wonder when they'll be starting with 50mb. Surely it can't be that far away if they plan to start before Chrismtas (obviously they have the change freeze).