The new infrastructure is providing up to 100 Gigabit per second (100 G) speeds using Cisco's carrier packet transport and coherent optical DWDM technology.

This network enhancement enables KFN to more easily scale to meet growing customer demands for Ethernet, mobile backhaul and high-speed private line services, and allows for the seamless delivery of popular mobile content -- such as high-definition video, mobile applications and collaboration tools.

The KFN deployment will also help provide rural areas in the state with cost-effective, high-speed Internet access and ultimately reduce the cost of applications -- such as distance learning and telemedicine, and increase economic growth.

KFN provides data, optical transport and IP-based services to wireless and wireline telecommunication carriers across its 2,700-route mile statewide network.

While KFN's infrastructure was originally engineered for 10 G services, Cisco's 100 G coherent DWDM solution was implemented on existing infrastructure and required no fiber replacement.

"Cisco's 100 G technology has allowed us to easily makeover our existing network, and provides a foundation to help fuel economic growth across the entire state with particular focus on rural areas. This DWDM technology provides high-speed Internet access and will help reduce the cost for Kansas businesses and organizations to offer increasingly popular mobile applications such as distance learning and telemedicine," said Steven Dorf, president, Kansas Fiber Network.

Delivering Next-Generation Internet Capabilities

Cisco carrier packet transport technology unifies both packet and transport domains, helping KFN reduce its operating costs while supporting both existing and new data optimized services.

The 100 G DWDM solution is based on coherent optical technology, powered by Cisco's nLight Silicon. It provides the capability to transmit up to 100 G wavelengths over fully uncompensated networks, up to 3,000 km optical spans.

Utilizing an advanced modulation scheme and enhanced forward error correction enables KFN to use its existing fiber plant investments while delivering maximum performance, especially on marginal or impaired fiber segments.

The solution is based on Cisco's Next Generation Internet architecture and is designed to provide both businesses and end users with new experiences which are more mobile, more virtual and more visual.

Demonstrating the increasing role of the network in people's lives, the most recent Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast indicates that global IP traffic has increased eightfold during the past five years, and will increase threefold during the next five years.