Türk Telekom and ZTE complete first 1.6Tbps full-band C+L live network trial

ZTE and Türk Telekom say they have completed what they describe as the world’s first live network trial using a full C+L band (12 THz) optical system carrying 1.6Tbps, running over Türk Telekom’s backbone in Istanbul.

The trial combined C-band and L-band spectrum on a single optical platform to push more capacity through existing fibre. For operators, this kind of upgrade is mainly about delaying new fibre builds while still handling rising 5G and data traffic. The companies position the test as a technical step toward higher-capacity 5G transport and future all‑optical networks, though they did not disclose commercial rollout timelines or specific performance metrics beyond the 1.6Tbps figure.