ETRI Successfully Demonstrates KOREN Through Localization of Next-Generation Optical Network Equipment

Next-generation optical network equipment developed by domestic researchers has been applied to KOREN, a research and development network, and its functionality and performance have been verified, brightening the outlook for the optical communication equipment market.

ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) and NIA (National Information Society Agency) announced on the 15th that they successfully demonstrated a research and development network for next-generation optical network equipment developed in-house through joint research with small and medium-sized enterprises including ETRI, Telefield Co., Ltd., and WooriNet Co., Ltd.

Telefield Localizes Equipment Through Joint Research with Woorinet

ETRI developed the Optical-Circuit-Packet Integrated Switch System (POTN), which integrates optical, circuit, and packet transmission network equipment into one, as a project of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning in 2014.
This system is a core piece of equipment that integrates the optical, circuit, and packet transmission devices previously required by telephone exchanges into a single unit. It effectively consolidates multiple operating transmission networks into a single network.

The research team stated that this equipment is a core component of next-generation network infrastructure and enables appropriate transmission services tailored to the characteristics of each service, resulting in a 60% reduction in power consumption and costs compared to existing equipment. This means that economical optical communication is possible to that extent.

In addition, ETRI announced that the joint development company manufactured the developed technology into its own commercial system, installed the system in the R&D networks in Seoul, Suwon, and Daejeon for about four weeks starting from January 21, and successfully completed the field application test supervised by the Korea Information Society Agency.

The integrated switch system equipment from Telefield Co., Ltd. applied in this R&D network test has a switching capacity of 3.2 terabytes, which refers to the amount of data a single device can process, while the equipment from WooriNet Co., Ltd. is a 400-gigabyte medium-capacity integrated switching system. In addition, ETRI stated that it is currently conducting research and development on a 10-terabyte switching capacity in collaboration with related industrial companies.

Application of 3.2 terabyte and 400 gigabyte-class equipment, verification of functionality and performance

Lee Sang-yong, Director of the Telefield Research Institute, said, “We succeeded in commercialization development through joint research with ETRI, and in order to revitalize the network industry and strengthen global competitiveness in the future, the willingness of the government and related operators to adopt domestic equipment is urgently needed.”

The research team expressed their expectations, stating, "The successful localization of the optical-circuit-packet integrated switch system by ETRI and domestic companies is a great achievement made possible through a project by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, and based on purely domestic technology, it will foster small but strong companies in the domestic network industry and lead the global market for next-generation transmission equipment."

Hwang Seung-gu, Director of ETRI’s Hyper-connected Communications Research Institute , explained, “This development is expected to contribute to ICT infrastructure innovation in accordance with the ‘K-ICT Hyper-connected Network Development Strategy’ promoted by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, as well as to leading the internet convergence economy through it.” He added, “ By enabling domestic companies to localize POTN equipment early through joint research with ETRI, we have been able to drive not only the economic benefits of the network industry itself but also the co-growth of convergence industries utilizing domestic network technology.”