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RLS

A reconfigurable line system

If you’re managing bandwidth-intensive applications—like connecting data centers, increasing submarine cable capacity, or building out 4G/5G infrastructure—RLS provides a compact, simple-to-deploy photonic layer platform built to scale. Easily expand nodal connectivity and wavelength capacity while gaining the flexibility and programmability to quickly respond to changing traffic demands.

Data sheet

Features and benefits

  1. Automate optical networking through a modern photonic line software architecture designed for deployments at scale

  2. Unlock the full efficiency of the optical layer with operational simplicity and predictable performance

  3. Scale to meet your highest-capacity network requirements with an optimized, ultra-dense photonic layer

  4. Reduce footprint as much as 70% compared to traditional chassis-based systems, with a modular and compact form factor

  5. Simplify network deployment, operation, and troubleshooting with built-in capabilities like zero-touch provisioning (ZTP), auto-discovery, and real-time network monitoring

  6. Double your fiber capacity with the simplest upgrade to L-band

Network applications

Long-haul networking

  • Easily provision or reconfigure services across a flexible ROADM-based network designed for any generation of coherent technology
  • Get massive scalability for your largest DCI deployments with an optimized C- and L-band architecture
  • Improve photonic system performance with Raman amplification by supporting longer spans, higher capacity, and/or greater reach

Metro DCI

  • Reduce cost per bit with fixed-grid filters optimized for your choice of coherent optics
  • Accelerate deployments with an automated operational model
  • Reduce footprint with highly dense, compact form factors that scale to cover your smallest and largest sites

RLS Hyper-Rail

  • Connect geographically diverse AI data centers across multi-span routes with a multi-rail product designed for hyperscale AI connectivity
  • Meet reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) requirements
  • Maximize deployable fiber capacity per rack with up to 32x greater rack-level density and support for up to 128 rails (or fiber pairs) per rack
  • Realize up to 75% power savings and 85% space reduction at amplifier sites where power and space are limited

Resilient, automated networking with the Layer 0 control plane

  • Simplify and automate wavelength turn-up and management
  • Improve network survivability with a field-proven, Layer 0 (L0) intelligent control plane
  • Rapidly adapt to problems, outages, and other issues that could adversely affect your network’s performance

Double fiber capacity—the easy way

  • Remove the need for L-band upgrade amplifier site visits with an integrated C- and L-band amplifier architecture
  • Easily expand into the L-band with no impact to existing, in-service C-band traffic by using built-in amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise loading
  • Eliminate additional L-band planning and engineering with stable, optimal performance maintained throughout the life of the system

Insights

Data technology abstract futuristic illustration. wave lines from blue dots

BLOG

Innovation in action: Building tomorrow’s photonic network today with Ciena’s RLS

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Article

What is multi-rail?

Learn how multi-rail photonic line systems enable AI-scale capacity with a fraction o...

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Data sheet

6500 Reconfigurable Line System

Scale photonic networks, double fiber capacity, reduce footprint by up to 70%, and si...

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Video

Chalk Talk: Maximize your fiber capacity with L-band spectrum

In this Chalk Talk, Paul Chedore, Photonic Systems Architect, provides a detailed com...

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White Paper

Increasing Fiber Capacity with L-band: A comparison of three options

Networks with high bandwidth applications and sustained bandwidth growth are quickly ...

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Integrated C- and L-band architecture

By integrating the C- and L-bands, adding wavelengths to the L-band is just as easy as lighting the C-band. Double fiber capacity without complex re-engineering or re-balancing of the line system. There’s no impact to existing C-band channels.

Want to learn more? Click through the steps below to see a sample installation from the initial deployment to growing traffic in the C- and L-bands.

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