Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Marvell intros 400G/800G PAM4 DSPs for Active Electrical Cables

Marvell introduced its Alaska A PAM4 DSP family for Active Electrical Cables (AECs) designed for data center interconnects by hyperscale customers.

The new Alaska 400G/800G DSPs, fabricated in 6nm process, leverages Marvell’s PAM4 DSP technology to improve signal integrity in copper, short reach AECs to address emerging 100G/lane adoption in cloud data center interconnect architectures. 

The new Alaska 400G/800G DSPs add to Marvell’s comprehensive portfolio of high speed transceivers, including line card retimers, gearboxes and MACsec PHYs supporting rates up to 800G, and active optical cable (AOC) interconnect solutions. 

Marvell said its Alaska A DSPs for AECs can compensate for >40db of loss, which enables longer reach and thinner cables, both of which are key requirements for high density data center deployments. The Marvell AEC platform includes a complete cable reference design for 400G and 800G AECs and software stack with CMIS5.0 support as well as proven interoperability with leading switch and NIC platforms. Marvell’s Alaska A platform brings Marvell’s PAM4 DSP leadership coupled with the state-of-the-art cable manufacturing and assembly expertise of leading cable manufacturers. This combination delivers best-in-class AECs as well as the scalability and supply assurance to meet the critical requirements of cloud customers.

“100G/lane-enabled products are the next inflection point for data centers, as artificial intelligence, machine learning and other data-intensive workloads grow,” said Achyut Shah, senior vice president and general manager of Marvell’s PHY business unit. “Achieving the reach needed for AI accelerators and server to top-of-rack links and switch-to-switch interconnects requires an active electrical cable (AEC) solution because of the reach limitations and cable thickness challenges of passive direct attach offerings at 100G/lane. We are working with all major cable vendors and cloud operators on end-to-end AEC solutions based on our  Alaska A DSPs to enable 100G serial-based next-generation data center deployments.”

Marvell also confirmed that it is working with leading data center cable manufacturers, including Amphenol, Celestica, Luxshare-tech, Molex, TE Connectivity, and Volex.

Marvell samples first 1.6T Ethernet PHY with 100G PAM4 I/Os in 5nm

Marvell has begun sampling the industry's first 1.6T Ethernet PHY with 100G PAM4 electrical input/outputs (I/Os) in 5nm, enabling next-generation 100G serial-based 400G and 800G Ethernet links for high-density switches. The doubling of the signaling rate creates signal integrity challenges, driving the need for retimer devices for high port count switch designs. It's critical that retimer and gearboxes used for these applications are extremely power...

Marvell samples 50G PAM4 DSP chipset for 5G optical fronthaul

Marvell has begun sampling the industry’s first 50Gbps PAM4 DSP and TIA chipset solution for 5G fronthaul.Key features of the new Marvell AtlasOne chipset:PAM4 digital core for optimal performance across a range of applications.Marvell’s companion IN5662 TIA for linearity while maintaining ultra-low noise and power.The industry’s first PAM4 DSP integrated Direct Modulated Laser driver in mainstream CMOS technology.Industrial temperature range support...


Marvell samples 800G Multimode Electro-Optics Platform

Marvell is now sampling a 800Gbps or 8 x 100Gbps multimode platform for short-reach optical modules and Active Optical Cable (AOC) applications. 

The new 800G platform, which includes Marvell's PAM4 DSP with a multimode transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and Driver, enables faster data center speeds scaling to 800Gbps, using conventional cost-effective vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technology over multimode fiber. 

"As a pioneer in PAM4 DSP technology for data centers, Marvell is the first in the industry to offer a cost-effective, plug-and-play platform solution that supports 800G speeds using VCSEL technology and multimode fiber," said Lian Qin, associate vice president, Optical and Copper Connectivity Group, Marvell. "With this industry-first 800G multimode platform solution, we are transforming today's data centers to deliver the required bandwidth to support the data centers of tomorrow."


PAM4 DSPs

The Marvell Spica PAM4 DSP is the industry's first 800Gbps or 8x100Gbps PAM4 DSP to support 800G optical modules in QSFP-DD800 and OSFP form factors. Spica is a field-proven, low-power, high-performance PAM4 DSP, optimized for optical transceiver modules applications, with various package options for all major module form factors. Spica DSPs are optimized for both multimode and single-mode applications.

Multimode Driver

The Marvell IN5614DV is a 56GBaud low power VCSEL linear driver for PAM4 optical modules or Active Optical Cables. The TIA is optimized for routing with a channel pitch aligned to the VCSEL optics driving over multimode fiber.

Multimode TIA

The Marvell IN5669TA is a 56GBaud low power VCSEL TIA for PAM4 optical modules. It features a wide dynamic range to meet the different performance and link requirements for optical applications and excellent signal integrity necessary for PAM4 modulation schemes.

https://www.marvell.com/company/newsroom/marvell-introduces-industrys-first-800g-multimode-electro-optics-platform-for-cloud-data-centers.html

Molex ramps 400G ZR QSFP-DD coherent optical transceivers

Molex is ramping production of its commercially available 400G ZR QSFP-DD pluggable coherent optical transceivers.

Molex’s 400G ZR is among the first standards-based, pluggable coherent optical modules to be commercially available in volume. In addition, the 400G OpenZR+, which is slated for availability in Q2, extends reach from 120km to about 600km at low power consumption to enable 12.8T in 1RU switch or router chassis.

Molex also completed experimental verification of 400 Gb/s data transmission over DCI ZR distances in a 75 GHz spaced DWDM link with amplification in an Open Line System (OLS). Using the compact, cost-effective Molex 400G ZR QSFP-DD transceiver modules in conjunction with 75 GHz OLS increases bandwidth capacity of optical fibers in a DCI application and can decrease the cost per bit significantly.

Molex is collaborating with Marvell on a 400G QSFP-DD optical module based on the Marvell® Deneb™ Coherent DSP (CDSP) while fully supporting the OpenZR+ Multi-Source Agreement (MSA).



Qualcomm debuts Wi-Fi 7

Qualcomm unveiled its FastConnect 7800 chipset offering Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth connectivity and High Band Simultaneous Multi-link technology that leverages two Wi-Fi radios for four streams of high band connectivity in 5GHz and/or 6GHz bands. FastConnect 7800 supports all multi-link modes and with HBS Multi-Link, consumers can experience minimized latency and interference, jitter-free connections, and blazing fast speeds using 320MHz channels in increasingly available 6GHz spectrum, or 240MHz channels of globally available 5GHz spectrum.

"With FastConnect 7800, Qualcomm Technologies reasserts its leadership by defining the future of wireless connectivity. Introducing the first Wi-Fi 7 solution to the industry might be enough for some, but with the introduction of HBS Multi-Link we take performance to the next level, shattering expectations for speed and latency," said Dino Bekis, vice president and general manager, Mobile Compute and Connectivity, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "Coupled with up to 50% lower power consumption** and Intelligent Dual Bluetooth with advanced Snapdragon Sound capabilities, FastConnect 7800 is simply the best client connectivity offering in the industry.”

Key Wi-Fi features include:

  • Peak speed: 5.8Gbps (via single 320MHz or paired 160MHz channels) or 4.3Gbps where 6GHz spectrum may not be available.
  • Sustained low latency: less than 2ms
  • Key Wi-Fi Features:
  • HBS Multi-Link
  • 4-Stream DBS extended into the high bands
  • Full Wi-Fi 7 feature support, expected to be the first Wi-Fi 7 solution to ship in commercial products
  • Spectrum support: 5GHz, 6GHz, as well as 2.4GHz
  • Battery life: system enhancements drive 30-50% power savings** for the most demanding sustained Wi-Fi use cases
  • Modulation: 4K QAM
  • Standards: 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7 – certification expected upon program launch), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6), 802.11ac Wave 2, 802.11a/b/g/n), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6), 802.11ac Wave 2, 802.11a/b/g/n.

Key Bluetooth features include:

  • Bluetooth 5.3, LE Audio and ANT+ support
  • Dual Bluetooth support
  • Snapdragon Sound technology to deliver:
  • 16-bit 44.1khz CD Lossless Bluetooth audio quality
  • 24-bit 96kHz high resolution Bluetooth audio quality 
  • 32kHz super wideband voice support for crystal clear calls
  • Gaming mode, with 68ms low latency audio for lag-free gaming and a voice channel for in game chat
  • Stereo recording for creators, enabling recorded content with stereo sound
  • Robust connectivity even in very busy RF environments
  • LE Audio for personal audio sharing and broadcast for listeners to share streams or join others


Vertical Systems Group: U.S. Wavelength Services LEADERBOARD

Vertical Systems Group announces that eight companies achieved a position on the year-end 2021 U.S. Wavelength Services LEADERBOARD (in rank order based on circuit share): Lumen, Zayo, Verizon, AT&T, Arelion (formerly Telia Carrier), Windstream, Crown Castle and Cox. 

This new benchmark measures U.S. market presence for wavelength providers selling retail and wholesale services. LEADERBOARD companies each have a one percent (1%) or higher share of U.S. wavelength circuits. A wavelength circuit provides a Layer 1 dedicated bidirectional gigabit-speed optical fiber connection between two sites.

“U.S. demand for wavelength services is rising to support mission-critical applications that require assured performance, deterministic latency and gigabit speed connectivity,” said Rick Malone, principal of Vertical Systems Group. “Our forecasts show double digit growth this year, driven by high demand for 100 Gbps wavelength circuits.”

U.S. Wavelength LEADERBOARD Research Highlights

  • Customer demand for retail wavelength circuits exceeded wholesale deployments in 2021.
  • Revenue for U.S. Wavelength Services is projected to grow at a 13% CAGR between 2021 and 2026. This projection incorporates the effects of the COVID pandemic, including installation disruptions and chip shortages.
  • Six providers on the U.S. Wavelength Services LEADERBOARD also hold a rank position on the latest U.S. Fiber Lit Buildings LEADERBOARD – Lumen, Zayo, Verizon, AT&T, Crown Castle and Cox. Additionally, Windstream achieved a Challenge Tier citation.
  • Five U.S. Wavelength Services LEADERBOARD providers are also top ranked on the Mid-2021 U.S. Ethernet LEADERBOARD – Lumen, Verizon, AT&T, Windstream and Cox. Zayo has a Challenge Tier citation.

https://www.verticalsystems.com/2022/02/23/2021-us-wavelength-leaderboard/

IP Infusion supplies white box OS for NTT's 8K120p video

IP Infusion provided its OcNOS white box network operating system (OS) to NTT for its development of uncompressed 8K120p video transmission technologies using the IOWN All-Photonics Network (APN). 

NTT recently announced its development of the world’s first-ever ultra-low latency video-transmission technology that supports uncompressed 8K120p video. Using a disaggregation configuration, it has succeeded in sending and receiving 8K120p video as SMPTE ST 2110 streams, which is the equivalent of doubling the current standard frame rate of 8K video. This achieves ultra-low latency video transmission with a delay of less than 1 ms between the video input at the transmitting end and video output at the receiving end. 

“IP Infusion supports the IOWN concept proposed by NTT,” said Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO of IP Infusion. “As a technology partner in research, development and implementation, we are helping NTT to realize this IOWN concept. We are very proud to have collaborated on the development of NTT’s world-first ultra-low latency video-transmission technology, which supports uncompressed 8K120p video, by providing our OcNOS white box network OS, which enables flexible setting of network configurations, and eliminates vendor lock-in to reduce costs. Going forward, we will continue working with NTT to develop and commercialize this technology.”

OcNOS is the industry’s first full-featured modular extensible network OS for white box open networking solutions offering advanced L2/L3 features and L1 DWDM/OTN functions that include extensive switching and routing support ranging from MPLS to PTP (Precision Timing Protocol) and APIs/protocols for SDN (Software Defined Networking). OcNOS features hybrid, centralized or distributed network support; scalable, modular high-performance network; and a robust data plane built on merchant silicon.

https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2022/02/22/220222a.html

Mitsubishi Electric samples 50Gbps DFB laser diode for 5G base stations

Mitsubishi Electric will begin sampling its 50Gbps distributed-feedback (DFB) laser diode for 5G base stations.

Key features

  • Frequency-response characteristics are compatible with 4-level pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM4) for multilevel signal modulation, supporting transmission rates up to 50Gbps. Also, its industry-leading operating temperature range of -40°C to 90°C eliminates the need for any temperature-control unit, helping to reduce power consumption by mobile base stations.
  • The new diode’s package is compliant with the TO-56 CAN industry standard and is compatible with the SFP56 compact-transceiver standard adopted for Mitsubishi Electric’s 25Gbps DFB laser diode (model ML764AA58T; production discontinued).

http://www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/