Shaw Communications has launched the nation's first 100 Gigabit per second (Gbit/s) fibre-optic network.

The network, delivered by Alcatel-Lucent, has the capability of carrying up to eighty-eight 100 Gbit/s channels over a single pair of fibres. The result is a network able to handle up to 133 million voice calls, 440,000 HDTV channels, or transmit 44 Blu-ray Discs in one second.

The technology delivers services at a rate of 100 Gbit/s – 10 times faster than Shaw's existing fibre-optic network. The launch follows a field trial over a 350-kilometre network between Calgary and Edmonton. Enhancements to the fibre-optic network will benefit both residential and business customers by providing new services, speed and reliability that is part of the Shaw Internet experience.

Shaw was also the first provider in Canada to trial gigabit Internet in April 2010, delivered through fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and will be able to support new and emerging Internet applications that require faster download speeds over the new fibre-optic network.