Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Coherent shows 200G per lane for transceivers, CPO engine

At #OFC23, Coherent demonstrated an optical transceiver module operating at 200 Gbps per optical lane and co-packaged optical (CPO) multimode optical engine operating at 50 Gbps NRZ.

Some highlights

  • 200G per lane OSFP optical transceiver - This live demonstration shows an OSFP form factor with 200G PAM4 per lane optical and 100G PAM4 per lane electrical interfaces, with an optical reach of up to 2 km. This transceiver is for use in the next generation of 25T and 50T Ethernet switches. It represents a natural evolution from transceivers with 100G optical lanes and is more power-efficient and cost-effective than previous generations. This technology is expected to form the core of the second generation of 800G transceivers and the first generation of 1.6T transceivers. They represent a natural evolution from transceivers with 100G optical lanes and are more power-efficient and cost-effective. Initial applications are anticipated in hyperscale datacenters, with enterprise applications to follow.
  • Co-packaged 800G multimode optical engine - This live demonstration shows a module that features 16 channels of 50G NRZ transmitters and receivers in a 15 mm x 15 mm x 4 mm multimode CPO 800G VCSEL-based engine. The entire analog front end, including the driver, VCSEL, photodiode, and transimpedance amplifier, consumes less than 4 pJ/bit. Each VCSEL is paired with another unpowered device to enable 100% cold sparing for extremely high reliability. Such multimode CPO engines are intended for use in cost-, power-, and latency-sensitive applications such as artificial intelligence and machine learning computer clusters. Prototypes of this multimode CPO engine, which are jointly developed with IBM under the sponsorship of ARPA-E, are available for immediate evaluation.

“These demonstrations will showcase the state of the art in datacom transceiver technology as we approach the era of terabit transmission,” said Dr. Lee Xu, Executive Vice President, Datacom Transceivers. “Such advances are critical to sustain the accelerating growth of the cloud through power efficiencies and cost reductions at both the module and architecture level.”


Open ROADM tests interoperability at up to 400G

 At #OFC23, member of the Open ROADM Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) and demonstrating interoperability of optical network equipment elements at data rates up to 400G. Participants include AT&T, Ciena, Cisco-Acacia, Fujitsu, Infinera, Juniper, Lumentum, NEC, Nokia, NTT, Orange, and Ribbon in collaboration with the researchers at the OpNeAR laboratory of the University of Texas at Dallas and Politecnico di Milano.

The Open ROADM MSA defines interoperability specifications for disaggregated optical transport networks. These specifications, which also include YANG data models, address Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADM), transponders, and pluggable optics. Multi-vendor Open ROADM compliant equipment can be integrated into the same network solution and controlled by the open source Transport PCE (TPCE) controller.

The optical network testbed  makes use of interconnected Open ROADM compliant equipment including ROADM nodes, 100G flexponders, Optical Transport Network (OTN) switches, 100G transponders, 400G transponders, 200G/300G/400G muxponders, a 400G single-node 3R regenerator, and CFP2-DCO and QSFP-DD 400G pluggable devices.

Demonstrated functionalities will include interoperability of CFP2-DCO 400G devices from three Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), an Open ROADM compliant 400G single-node 3R regenerator, an automated path restoration mechanism at the physical layer implemented in the open source TPCE controller, interoperability between CFP2-DCO and QSFP-DD 400G pluggable devices, an IPoverWDM architecture with routers hosting QSFP-DD 400G coherent pluggables supporting oFEC, and various multi-layer network monitoring techniques for both optical and data packet transport layers. These demonstrations will be carried out over a single testbed composed of multiple network elements provided by the participating OEMs.

The demonstration also marks the first showing of Open ROADM-compliant 400Gb/s transmission achieved via router-optimized QSFP-DD pluggables, which incorporate embedded amplification and tunable optical filtering to enable simple deployment over any type of ROADM line system. Optical signal Interoperability between CFP2-DCO 400G and QSFP-DD 400G will be showcased. With the ability to support all metro ROADM client performance requisites in the small QSFP-DD form factor, these technologies expand the range of Open ROADM applications to include converged IPoverWDM architectures, which Release 11.0 covers through an extension of both the device and service models to handle such use cases.

Two recently added functions to improve signal reliability in Open ROADM transport networks will also be demonstrated in the OFC’23 testbed. First, an Open ROADM-compliant 3R regenerator with a bidirectional single-node (all optical) design will be applied to a 400G signal routed through four ROADM sites in the testbed.  In this single-node design, only network interfaces must be specified (e.g., OTSI, OTSI-group, OTUC4, and ODUC4 for 400G) to achieve reliable high-data rate connections over multi-hop and/or long-distance physical routes. 

Second, the automated path restoration mechanism newly implemented in the open source Transport PCE (TPCE) controller will be applied to overcome unexpected quality degradations of a 400G service in the Open ROADM testbed. For any created wave service that is labeled as “restorable,” the open source TPCE controller triggers a restoration mechanism at the physical layer as soon as its signal is subjected to a severe power degradation (e.g., a fiber cut).  Upon receiving a change notification of the ROADM degree optical transmission section (OTS) interface operational state, TPCE computes a new candidate path to circumvent the problematic degree and reroutes the wave service over that path.

“AT&T is actively deploying Open ROADM MSA compliant optical network equipment and plans to have more than 10 metro markets supporting 100G and 400G traffic by year end,” says John Gibbons, AVP, Packet Core and Optical Transport, AT&T. “For operators, the interoperability enabled by Open ROADM can encourage lower costs, accelerate technology introduction, help reduce life-cycle costs, and allow networks to remain viable longer. The Open ROADM MSA continues to lead the industry in introducing new interoperable capabilities, as demonstrated by the Open ROADM demo at OFC 2023.”

http://openroadm.org/

Sumitomo Electric to manufacture US Conec's MMC Multi-fiber Connector

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave has agreed to manufacture US Conec's MMC connector and TMT ferrule components for next-generation, high-density, multi-fiber cabling solutions. 

US Conec's MMC connector combines a novel, reduced footprint multi-fiber ferrule with a very small Form factor (VSFF) connector footprint which is 1/3 the size of the MPO format. This collaboration to deliver MMC solutions supports active hyper-scale data center cabling programs and ensures a robust supply chain for emerging and future optical link architectures. Initial deployments include 24F single-mode, low-loss MMC connectors.

"US Conec is a leader in the development of next generation VSFF multi-fiber connectivity, and we are pleased to partner with them to deliver connectivity solutions using their MMC connector, which is indispensable for building next-generation data centers. We will leverage our precision molding technology to produce and sell solutions utilizing MMC connectivity to help customers overcome their challenges for saving space and reducing installation time, thereby contributing to the realization of an advanced information society," said Yoshiyuki Suetsugu, Deputy General Manager, Info-communications Business Unit of Sumitomo Electric.

"We are excited to partner with Sumitomo Electric on next generation high density connectivity solutions with the MMC connector platform. Their long history as a premier MT ferrule maker makes Sumitomo Electric an excellent second source partner for TMT ferrules and MMC connector components. Combining Sumitomo Electric's proven high performance component background with state-of-the-art cable technology will help to ensure a robust supply chain for emerging fiber optic networks built with groundbreaking MMC based cabling solutions," said Joe Graham, President of US Conec.


VIAVI shows test platform for 128X 800G ports

VIAVI showcased its new High-Speed Ethernet (HSE) Platform, a multiport solution that complements the physical layer testing capabilities of the VIAVI ONT-800 Platform. The HSE provides IC, module and network systems companies with high-speed devices for testing up to 128 x 800G. It offers physical layer test features with advanced traffic generation and analysis to troubleshoot and test the functionality and performance of integrated circuits and pluggable interfaces along with switching and routing devices and networks.

VIAVI will also demonstrate the recently released 800G Ethernet Technology Consortium (ETC) capability of its ONT 800G FLEX XPM Module, supporting testing needs of hyperscalers, data centers and related applications. In addition to supporting the 800G ETC implementation, it also offers extensive Forward Error Correction (FEC) stress and validation tools critical to ASIC, FPGA and IP implementations. The VIAVI ONT 800G XPM also offers tools to validate potential draft IEEE 802.3df proposals.

"As the leader in optical network testing up to 1.6T, VIAVI continues to invest in helping its customers simplify the challenges and complications involved with testing at high Ethernet speeds," said Tom Fawcett, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Lab & Production, VIAVI. "Our ONT-800 platform now supports 800G ETC, providing a logical addition to our solid physical layer testing foundation as we move up the Ethernet stack to the new HSE solution."

A new line of VIAVI Loopback Adapters has also been introduced at OFC. VIAVI QSFP-DD800 Loopback Adapters enable network equipment vendors, IC designers, service providers, ICPs, contract manufacturers and FAE teams to develop, validate and produce Ethernet switches, routers and processors that use high-speed pluggable optics. 


Jabil debuts 800G Active Optical Cable Family

Jabil introduced a new Active Optical Cable (AOC) family suited for disaggregated data center and cloud environments. 

The first product is available in two configurations:

  • point-to-point communications at speeds up to 800Gbps over distances of up to 100 meters. 
  • a breakout-cable configuration which connects a single 800Gbps interface with two 400G QSFP-DD modules. The breakout cable is ideally suited to connect next-gen switches operating at 800Gbps with existing ports operating at 400Gbps without requiring additional conversion or mapping. 

The new 800G AOC product, which will be available in both QSFP-DD and OSFP form factors,  leverages Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology operating at 100Gbps per fiber and 800G PAM4 Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology. 

Jabil’s first 800G AOC product will be available during the second half of 2023. Development is underway on 400G AOC products to extend the AOC product line while accommodating a wide range of applications.

“Jabil’s investments in key enabling technologies and world-class facilities are driving the availability of game-changing photonics solutions and capabilities,” said KW Hoo, vice president of the photonics business unit, Jabil. “With the introduction of our 800G AOC family, we meet immediate needs for low-cost, high-performance, short-distance interconnects. Jabil’s ability to push the boundaries of photonics technology is backed by strong product design, precision manufacturing, and packaging services that advance optical communications excellence on behalf of our global customers and valued partner ecosystem.”


Lumentum showcases tunable transceivers for network edge

At OFC23, Lumentum is demonstrating its line-up of tunable transceivers for edge and access applications:

  • 25G T-SFP28: A unique industrial (-40 to +85 C) temperature-capable 25G T-SFP28 DWDM transceiver that adopts  MSA-compliant SmartTunable technology to simplify field deployment tasks by adopting self-tuning algorithms. It leverages the company's substantial installed base of manufacturing capacity to meet the rapid growth anticipated from 5G applications. Lumentum's 25G TSFP28 is expected to be in production and available to customers by the end of March 2023.

  • 10G OTN SFP+: An OTN SFP+ transceiver with an integrated forward error correction (FEC) engine that supports extended-reach applications without an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The transceiver can interoperate with any open DWDM line system and transparently carry a native 10G LAN PHY payload with a carrier-grade DWDM OTN interface. Lumentum is also introducing the industry's first 100G CFP2-DCO BiDi 

  • 100G Coherent CFP2-DCO BiDi: A reflection-tolerant coherent optical transceiver for bi-directional DWDM transmission over a single fiber, addressing the challenges of link capacity, simplification, and cost.

"We are excited to introduce and demonstrate Lumentum's broad range of tunable transceiver modules at OFC," said Justin Abbott, Lumentum's Director of Product Line Management, Transmission. "With our latest products, we simplify, expand, and deliver cost-effective solutions essential for growth at the network edge, including for telecommunications carriers in the cable MSO and 5G space as they speed up connectivity in their deployments."

www.lumentum.com