Coherent Routing

Simplify and transform your IP-optical network with IP over DWDM

Coherent Routing

Fulfill the promise of IP over DWDM

Nokia's coherent routing solutions make IPoDWDM a reality: From 100G to 800G ZR/ZR+ and beyond, across vendors, with the operational simplicity your teams really need. This is how telecommunication providers future-proof their IP and optical networks without starting over.

Why IPoDWDM projects stall

You've heard the pitch: "Converge IP and optical, cut costs, simplify operations, and your future is bright." But in reality, most IPoDWDM deployments hit the same walls:

Multi-vendor chaos: Your routers and optical systems don't speak the same language. Troubleshooting becomes a blame game.
Operational silos: IP teams and optical teams still operate in separate worlds — different tools, different workflows, different languages, and different KPIs.
Pluggable roulette: Not all ZR or ZR+ modules work the same. Interoperability isn't guaranteed, and your vendor's "certified list" is shorter than you'd like.

The result? IPoDWDM becomes a science project, not a production network.

Nokia Coherent Routing solution for IPoDWDM

On this page

Why IPoDWDM projects stall
How Nokia coherent routing makes IPoDWDM real
Why telcos choose Nokia for IPoDWDM
What sets us apart
Use cases
Frequently asked questions
Resources
Related topics
Related solutions and products
Learn more

How Nokia Coherent Routing makes IPoDWDM real

Most IPoDWDM programs don’t fail because ZR/ZR+ optics don’t exist—they stall because interoperability, operations, and accountability break down at scale. Nokia Coherent Routing is designed to cross that gap: coherent optics hosted in carrier-grade routers, integrated with optical transport architectures, and coordinated through cross-domain operational visibility.

Nokia doesn’t claim your IP and optical teams will suddenly operate as one. Instead, we help you run IPoDWDM with faster fault isolation, fewer handoffs, and repeatable turn-up workflows—so IPoDWDM becomes a deployable architecture, not a science project.

Roadblocks	What Nokia does differently	How you benefit operationally
“Multi-vendor chaos”	Validated optics and standards-based integration across IP routers, pluggable optics and open line systems.	Expand suppliers and architectures without turning every rollout into a custom integration project.
“Silos and blame game”	NSP correlates cross-domain events and connectivity context so teams can quickly determine where to act next	Faster triage, clearer ownership, fewer escalations; IP teams get the context they need without becoming optical experts
“Pluggable roulette”	Coherent-capable routing platforms + coherent module management + deployment guidance/validation	More predictable deployments and upgrades; fewer surprises when scaling from 100G → 400G → 800G
“Scaling hurts”	800G-ready router hosting and high-density coherent optics support	Capacity growth without forklift chassis cycles; cleaner roadmap planning
“Turn-up takes forever”	Model-driven provisioning + repeatable workflows and templates	Faster turn-up, fewer manual steps, and more consistent outcomes across sites and teams

Why telcos choose Nokia for IPoDWDM

IPoDWDM isn't new. But most vendors are selling you either a router with pluggables (and no optical expertise), or an optical system with IP bolted on (and no routing pedigree). Nokia gives you both IP routing and optical transport and we’ve demonstrated industry leadership in bringing these two worlds together with comprehensive, cross-domain management coordination and automation tools.

What sets us apart

Proven at scale. Deployed globally — not lab demos, not pilot projects.
Open + integrated. We manage multi-vendor domain controllers using T-API standards, along with the 3rd party routers and pluggable coherent optics.
Operational realism. We know your IP and optical teams won't merge overnight. Our tools work with your current org structure — unified visibility without forced reorganization.
800G-ready today. Our ZR+ coherent engines provide the very performance customers expect from their optical transport and IPoDWDM network. And we're already working on the tomorrow's 1.6T and 3.2T coherent optics.

Solution brochure

Coherent Routing

Where our solution works best

Use case 1

Metropolitan Networks

Scenario: High-density metro IP routing POPs with limited rack space and power
Solution: 100G/400G/800G ZR/+ pluggables + Nokia optical line systems
Outcome: +40% reduction in footprint vs. separate IP + DWDM shelves

Use case 2

Data Center Interconnect

Scenario: Connecting hyperscale DCs across metro/regional distances
Solution: 400G/800G ZR+ pluggables + Nokia optical line systems
Outcome: Sub-5ms latency, pay-as-you-grow capacity

Use case 3

Regional and Long-Haul IPoDWDM Transport

Scenario: Extending coherent routing beyond metro (500+ km)
Solution: Nokia IP routers + integrated optical amplification
Outcome: Single vendor for IP + optical = faster troubleshooting, one support contract

What IP and optical architects ask us

How do you validate multi-vendor ZR/ZR+ interoperability?

Our Blueprint Solutions Labs pre-validates target solutions (routers, optics, and line systems) for production readiness before deployment. It de-risks first-off rollouts by testing network configurations and system interoperability to ensure predictable performance across optics, transport - and management systems.

How do I manage IP and optical domains without forcing my teams to merge?

Nokia NSP (Network Services Platform) enables correlation and coordination across IP and optical layers, but it doesn't require organizational restructuring. Your IP team can still use their tools; your optical team keeps theirs. NSP will assist teams by giving shared visibility and faster escalation; preserves domain tools and accountability; and reduces time to isolate root cause.

What's the migration path from 100G to 800G?

Our chassis are modular. You can start with 100G ZR/ZR+ pluggables today, add 400G ZR/ZR+ as traffic grows, and upgrade to 800G ZR/ZR+ without replacing routers as part of planned upgrades.

How does this compare to buying separate IP routers and DWDM systems?

When buying everything separately - IP routers, pluggable coherent optics, DWDM line systems and cross-domain management – the operational challenge is how to effectively integrate, manage and maintain all components in your network over time. These challenges can heavily weigh on your Total Cost of Ownership and are costly to solve once you start down that path. When you buy Nokia Coherent Routing, you don’t have to worry about managing complex integration logistics, who is accountable, or how to account for the upfront and ongoing cost of system integration and network evolution.

What if I already have Infinera optical gear? Does this still work?

Absolutely. The former Infinera portfolio is now part of Nokia. We have complemented the existing integration options of Transcend optical management/control system with NSP IP-optical cross-domain management.

Ready to move beyond the hype?

Talk to a Nokia IPoDWDM specialist about your network. We'll show you what's realistic, what's not, and how to get from here to 800G and beyond, without the science project.

Connect with sales