32/spl times/40 Gbit/s WDM transmission over 1704 km

A 32/spl times/40 Gbit/s WDM transmission has been demonstrated over 1704 km dispersion managed fiber. The bit error ratio for all wavelengths ranges from 6/spl times/10/sup -6/ to 2/spl times/10/sup -7/ thus leading to a 1.3 dB system margin above the 11.5 dB Q limit of standard Reed-Solomon correction code.