Empower Media Production Company with Future-Ready DWDM Solution

The client is a UK-based media production company providing post-production platforms. Since establishing a partnership with FS in 2022, they have repeatedly expressed satisfaction with our products and services. Recently, the client has faced bandwidth constraints due to increasing data traffic and is looking to upgrade their transmission links to support ongoing business growth. FS has initially proposed several options and is refining the solution through ongoing discussions to meet their specific requirements.

The client's current network architecture faces performance bottlenecks, struggling to meet the growing demands of the media production industry for high bandwidth, large-scale data transfer, and efficient post-production processing. Additionally, the use of equipment from multiple vendors in the network has increased compatibility issues and management complexity. The existing links lack sufficient bandwidth and flexibility, hindering future business expansion and upgrade requirements.

To address these challenges, the client plans to upgrade to over 100Gb/E high-speed transmission architecture, requiring new equipment to integrate with the existing infrastructure seamlessly. With limited budget and tight timelines, the client aims to swiftly optimise the network to ensure a smooth transition and support ongoing business operations.

The solution leverages DWDM technology combined with 40-channel MUX/DEMUX equipment to achieve efficient fibre transmission over a 20km distance. By multiplexing multiple wavelengths on a single fibre, the solution maximises fibre utilisation and delivers significant cost savings. Each site utilises 40G-SR4 and 40G-ER4 optical modules, supported by OEO (Optical-Electrical-Optical) conversion, to ensure stable, long-distance, high-bandwidth transmission.

Three 40G links are divided into four 10G channels using a 1:4 splitter. OEO technology then converts the 4x10G SR signals into 4x10G DWDM signals for connection to the MUX/DEMUX. An additional 40G link is transmitted through the 1310nm port on the MUX/DEMUX, while the remaining 4x10G links are directly connected to the MUX/DEMUX.

With the integration of a Network Management System (NMS), the solution provides real-time monitoring of network status and performance, enabling rapid identification and resolution of potential issues. This minimises manual intervention and enhances operational efficiency. Additionally, the modular design and standardised interfaces simplify equipment maintenance and upgrade processes, enabling customers to rapidly deploy networks and accelerate business operations.

The solution provides customers with an efficient, stable, and cost-effective network infrastructure. Deployment costs are reduced by 35%, and fibre resource utilisation is increased fourfold, significantly lowering investment and operational expenses. The current network achieves 200G transmission capacity, with 24 reserved channels to support future expansion, ensuring flexibility to meet growing business demands.

Integration of NMS and a 1+1 redundancy protection mechanism ensures high network availability and stability. Additionally, optimised solution design reduces implementation time by 40%, enabling rapid system deployment and upgrades. The overall solution not only meets current needs but also lays the foundation for future scalability, achieving a balance between efficient deployment and long-term value.