Opnext Introduces Optical Transceiver for 100 Gbps Ethernet

Opnext announced the industry's first 100 Gbps Ethernet (100GbE) optical transceiver for 10km transmission over standard single-mode fiber (SMF). The transceiver is compliant with IEEE P802.3ba 100GBASE-LR4 standard and with the CFP Multi-Source Agreement (MSA). This MSA is the first industry standard to support next generation high speed interfaces including 100GbE transmission.


Opnext's 100GbE optical transceiver utilizes an in-house 1310nm wavelength range 25 Gbps EA-DFB laser (electro-absorption modulator with integrated distributed feedback laser) TOSA and in-house PIN-PD ROSA. Both the TOSA and ROSA were developed in collaboration with the Central Research Laboratories of Hitachi, Ltd.


Opnext said the low power consumption of this transceiver was achieved by using a high temperature operation EA-DFB laser based on Opnext and Hitachi's advanced technologies of using semiconductor material with a temperature-tolerant band-gap structure. In addition, the cost-effective structure and compact size of the transceiver was achieved with non-coaxial 25 Gbps connections between the TOSA, ROSA and GearBox IC.


"The availability of the 100GbE 10km client-side optical transceiver is key for wide spread 100GbE applications," said Kei Oki, president of Opnext Japan. "This successful demonstration exemplifies our relationship with Hitachi CRL and demonstrates Opnext's ability to drive technology within the industry."


The optical transceiver is hot pluggable and is the same length but double the width of the 10 Gbps Ethernet industrial standard XENPAK. It has SC duplex receptacle optical connecter and a 148-pin electrical connecter with CAUI 10x10 Gbps signals. The transceiver requires a single +3.3V power supply. Samples will be available in mid 2009 and will be in generally available in mass production in mid 2010.
http://www.opnext.com