ER-Telecom Completes Metro DWDM Backbone Network Deployment in St. Petersburg
Russia’s ER-Telecom Holding has completed the construction of its Metro DWDM backbone network in St. Petersburg, using domestically produced optical equipment from T8 — a milestone in the country’s telecom import substitution program.
Driving Import Substitution and Technological Sovereignty
Russia’s telecom industry continues to push forward with its import substitution strategy, replacing foreign-made network equipment with domestic technologies. These initiatives go beyond local upgrades — they represent large-scale infrastructure modernization that strengthens the country’s technological sovereignty.
ER-Telecom’s latest project marks its first major metro backbone deployment in the region using Russian Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) equipment, supplied by T8.
The modernization will improve centralized network management, increase reliability and scalability, and significantly boost bandwidth. DWDM technology enables high-speed, high-capacity data transmission with superior reliability — essential for meeting today’s surging demand for broadband, cloud services, AI applications, and high-resolution video.
“DWDM traffic in Russia is growing by about 20–25% annually, depending on the region,” said Konstantin Marchenko, Deputy CEO for Development at T8. “In megacities like St. Petersburg, demand is near the upper range of that estimate. As a domestic equipment manufacturer, our goal is to ensure flexible scalability and cost efficiency for operators.”
High-Speed, High-Reliability Network Design
The optical transport project includes 13 traffic aggregation nodes connected in a unified ring topology. Each element was engineered for the unique challenges of dense urban environments — short distances with high signal attenuation and elevated risks of physical fiber damage.
To prevent service disruptions, the network features Optical Channel Protection (OChP), which enables failover switching to backup routes in under 50 milliseconds. Each node supports 48 optical channels per ring, with up to 400 Gbps per channel, ensuring both resilience and flexibility for future network expansion. This design not only enhances reliability but also reduces the operational risks associated with maintenance in metropolitan areas.
Proven Efficiency and Domestic Innovation
ER-Telecom selected T8 as its primary partner because the company remains the only Russian vendor offering a full line of carrier-grade DWDM equipment. T8’s flagship DWDM platform, Volga, launched in 2023, supports data transmission speeds of up to 800 Gbps per wavelength and allows rapid capacity scaling. In 2024, T8 and Rostelecom successfully completed a pilot project achieving 400 Gbps transmission entirely on Russian equipment — validating the technology’s readiness for backbone networks.
The success of these projects underlines Russia’s growing competence in optical communications and highlights the strategic value of investing in domestic R&D and manufacturing.
Export Potential and Global Relevance
Russia’s DWDM equipment has proven its performance and reliability in real-world conditions and could soon find international demand among nations seeking alternatives to Western telecom suppliers. The ER-Telecom and T8 collaboration demonstrates that domestic production can not only sustain current network operations but also enable large-scale modernization while maintaining economic efficiency.
This lays the groundwork for expanding advanced digital services in Russia — from gigabit broadband to next-generation enterprise solutions — without risking supply chain interruptions.
