Nistica unveils FLEXBOX grid-flexible, disaggregated ROADM

Nistica, a Fujikura subsidiary and supplier agile optical networking solutions, has unveiled FLEXBOX, a disaggregated ROADM node designed for next-generation software defined networks (SDN), and plans to work with existing system vendor customers to deliver the product to carriers and webscale end customers.

Offered in single rack unit (1 RU) form-factors, Nistica's products are designed to enable broadcast-and-select and route-and-select architectures by integrating its grid-flexible single and dual C-band and L-band wavelength selective switches (WSS).

For the new solution, Nistica has leveraged gain-controlled optical amplification derived from its expertise in ROADM blade optical signal control loops that is incorporated with the WSS technology to enable an automated optical layer for carriers seeking hands-free operation via software control.

Nistica is introducing a customised black-box model whereby OEMs can specify optical layer differentiators, as well as tailor the software layer to offer advanced optical capabilities to end customers. Based on standardised SDN support of NetConf and RestConf network management interfaces through Yang models, FLEXBOX is designed to be compatible with emerging standards within collaborative platforms such as OpenROADM and Telecom Infrastructure Project (TIP).

Nistica is demonstrating the functionality of the FLEXBOX solution at OFC 2017 in Los Angeles.

http://www.nistica.com/

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Mellanox Intros Silicon Photonics-based 200G Transceivers

Mellanox Technologies introduced a new line of new line of 200 Gbit/s silicon photonics and VCSEL-based transceivers in a QSFP28 package and 100 Gbit/s silicon photonics components designed for hyperscale Web 2.0 and cloud optical interconnect applications.

200 Gbit/s transceivers

Mellanox new 200 Gbit/s silicon photonics and VCSEL-based transceivers are offered in the same QSFP28 package as current 100 Gbit/s products and target hyperscale Web 2.0 and cloud 100 Gbit/s networks. Mellanox is also introducing 200 Gbit/s active optical cables (AOCs) and direct attach copper cables (DACs), including breakout cables, enabling end-to-end 200 Gbit/s Ethernet networks.

Specifically, Mellanox is introducing the following 200 Gbit/s products:

1.  1550 nm DR4 QSFP28 silicon photonics transceiver for reach up to 500 metres on single mode fibre.

2.  SR4 VCSEL QSFP28 transceiver for reach up to 100 metres on OM4 multi-mode fibre.

3.  QSFP28 AOC for reach up to 100 metres.

4.  QSFP28 DAC cable for reaches up to 3 metres.

5.  QSFP28 to 4 x 50 Gbit/s SFP28 copper splitter cables for connecting 50 Gbit/s servers to ToR switches.

Mellanox noted that the transceivers and DACs support the new IEEE 200GAUI electrical standard using 25 GBaud PAM4 signalling.

100 Gbit/s silicon photonics components

Mellanox also unveiled new 100 Gbit/s silicon photonics components and announced the availability of the following solutions:

1.  PSM4 silicon photonics 1550 nm transmitter with flip-chip bonded DFB lasers and attached 1 metre fibre pigtail for reach up to 2 km.

2.  PSM4 silicon photonics 1550 nm transmitter with flip-chip bonded DFB lasers and attached fibre stub for connectorised transceivers with reach up to 2 km.

3.  Low-power 100 Gbit/s (4 x 25 Gbit/s) modulator driver IC.

4.  PSM4 silicon photonics 1310 and 1550 nm receiver array with 1 metre fibre pigtail.

5.  PSM4 silicon photonics 1310 and 1550 nm receiver array for connectorised transceivers.

6.  Low-power 100 Gbit/s (4 x 25 Gbit/s) trans-impedance amplifier IC.

At OFC Mellanox held live demonstrations of its end-to-end solutions, including: Spectrum 100 Gbit/s QSFP28/ SFP28 switches; ConnectX-4 and ConnectX-5 25/50/100 Gbit/s QSFP28/SFP28 network adapters; LinkX 25/50/100 Gbit/s DAC and AOC cables and 100 Gbit/s SR4 and PSM4 transceivers; Quantum switches with 40 ports of 200 Gbit/s QSFP28 in a 1 RU chassis; and ConnectX-6 adapters with 2 ports of 200 Gbit/s QSFP28.

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Cavium and Elenion offer silicon photonics-based reference architecture

Cavium, a provider of semiconductor products designed to enable secure, intelligent packet processing, and Elenion Technologies, a developer of silicon photonics technology, announced an end-to-end reference architecture for use in enterprise and cloud data centres.

Integrating Cavium's QLogic network interface cards (NICs) and XPliant-based switches, with Elenion's silicon photonics on-board optics, the direct fibre-to-the-server and parallel multi-channel on-board solution for switches is designed to provide increased bandwidth to the server, aggregation at 400 Gbit/s and beyond, lower power consumption and offer a path to achieving the target of less than $1 per Gbit.

For the joint solution, Cavium is contributing its QLogic high performance, multi-protocol Ethernet adapters, which support 10/25/40/100 Gbit/s speeds, and the XPliant Ethernet switch family, providing a high throughput, programmable data centre switching solution.

Cavium noted that platforms based on the XPliant Ethernet switches are able to leverage its programmatic control of table resources and pipeline logic to address the specific needs of the network architecture, while also providing a high degree of packet visibility and telemetry.

Cavium and Elenion are displaying the reference design for fibre-to-the-server solutions during OFC 2017 in Los Angeles. A demonstration based on Elenion's next-generation photonics platform and packaging technology, combined with the Cavium solutions, showcases advanced on-board transceivers with light sources integrated onto the silicon photonics to enable a scalable, cost disruptive on-board solutions for NIC and switch applications within the data centre.

Recently, Coriant introduced a short reach CFP2-ACO pluggable module for its Groove G30 Network Disaggregation Platform (NDP) that included silicon photonics technology from Elenion, The Groove short reach CFP2-ACO pluggable is designed to enable cost-optimised, power-efficient 200 Gbit/s connectivity for carrier transport and DCI applications.

http://www.cavium.com

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OE Solutions Intros Smart SFPs for TDM over Packet

South Korea's OE Solutions and AimValley of the Netherlands have announced the introduction of the final products within their portfolio of Network Migration Smart SFPs, which enable customers to deliver TDM services over packet network via a plug-and-play portfolio that offers support for TDM services from 1.5 Mbit/s up to 2.5 Gbit/s.

The family of network migration Smart SFP modules is designed to facilitate the transition from legacy TDM to all-packet networks by converting PDH or SONET/SDH signals to a packet stream.

The Smart SFP products are designed to provide operators with a cost-effective alternative to upgrading systems using dedicated TDM-over-packet cards or installing new equipment. The Smart SFP modules can be added to any router or packet switch where a TDM service is required.

OE Solutions stated that adding legacy PDH or SDH/SONET services to a packet network can be achieved via first provisioning an EPL service into the packet network and then inserting a Smart SFP at each endpoint of the EPL service. This provides a reliable point to point connection for the delivery of services such as E1 to a legacy base station.

For more complex application, such as PDH to SONET aggregation, Smart SFPs are inserted at locations where an PDH or SONET service is required, and using EPL or EVPL the connections in the network can be set up to aggregate legacy services, for example T1 service aggregation into an OC-3 service. The companies noted that Smart SFPs support industrial temperature range operation and offer a range of optical and electrical interfaces for different applications.

Last week, OE Solutions announced the release of extended reach 10 Gbit/s CWDM SFP+ transceivers and high-density transceivers, including 2 x 10 Gbit/s compact SFP+, 4 x 10 Gbit/s QSFP+ and 25 Gbit/s SFP28, for wireless fronthaul applications.

The CWDM SFP+ transceivers support 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, as well as CPRI-2 to CPRI-8 for wireless network applications, and utilise cooled DFB laser diodes combined with wide dynamic range APD detectors to enable reach up to 20 km for wavelengths up to 1611 nm.

The new industrial temperature grade, high density transceivers are designed to enable high port densities in radio access network equipment to support the roll-out of next generation wireless infrastructures. Products include a 2 x 10 Gbit/s multi-rate bidirectional compact-SFP+ solution for distances up to 20 km, a 4 x 10 Gbit/s multi-rate QSFP+ device offering reach up to 300 metres, and a 25 Gbit/s SFP28 solution with multiple rate and protocol options for distances up to 10 km.

http://www.oesolutions.com/main/view/

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NeoPhotonics Demos Coherent Transceiver for 400/600Gbps

At this week's Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) Conference and Exhibition in Los Angeles NeoPhotonics will demonstrate its pluggable Coherent CFP2-ACO module for 400G and up on a single wavelength over metro distances.

The NeoPhotonics' ClearLight CFP2-ACO Platform is capable of achieving single wavelength 200G, 400G and 600 Gbps transmission over Data center Interconnect through metro/regional distances.

The company said its ClearLight CFP2-ACO platform uses next generation optical components which are based on platforms that have been proven in volume production for 100G and 200G network applications. The platform uses NeoPhotonics’ high bandwidth Class 40 Coherent Receiver capable of 64Gbaud with 16-QAM to 64-QAM modulation.  This high bandwidth receiver maintains high sensitivity to simplify migration from 100G to 200G and 400G links.  The platform also uses NeoPhotonics’ industry leading high power, external cavity, ultra-narrow line width tunable laser with low power consumption. The ultra-narrow line widths enables higher order constellations with less processing requirements from the DSP.

The ClearLightTM  64 Gbaud CFP2-ACO demonstrates the ability to scale data capacity to 400G/600G on a single wavelength while maintaining performance and link budgets in DCI or metro/regional links.  The data capacity scaling optimizes the cost per bit and thus enables broad deployment of coherent transmission from short to long reaches.

"Our new ClearLightTM 64 Gbaud CFP2-ACO 400G/600G pluggable coherent transponder demonstrates a powerful new platform for NeoPhotonics which is capable of efficiently implementing 400G to 600G transmission networks," said Tim Jenks, Chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. "This exciting new platform is made possible by our Advanced Hybrid Photonic Integration technology utilizing our latest advances in high bandwidth receivers and ultra-narrow linewidth lasers in conjunction with higher order modulation, " continued Mr. Jenks.

http://www.neophotonics.com

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Nokia Expands its 1830 Optical Portfolio

Nokia today announced an expansion of its flagship 1830 optical product family to help operators to scale their networks across premises access, metro aggregation and long haul data center interconnect (DCI).

Highlights of Nokia's new optical innovations include:

• The Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Demarcation (PSD) is a carrier-class network demarcation device supporting Ethernet and wavelength services. It cost effectively extends metro optical networks to the customer premise, enabling resilient, high-capacity access to cloud services while providing end-to-end service assurance.
• The  Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Interconnect (PSI) integrates the super coherent technology of the Photonic Service Engine 2 (PSE-2s) into a data center physical and operational form-factor, delivering the highest proven optical performance and flexibility available in a purpose-built DCI platform. Its unique modulation formats maximize spectral efficiency and distance for metro, long haul, and subsea networks.
• New 100G line cards for the 1830 Photonic Service Switch address the high-capacity, low latency aggregation required to connect cloud service consumers to metro colors and edge data centers. Powered by the PSE-2 Compact (PSE-2c) metro-optimized 100G digital signal processor, the new 100G OTN and packet cards efficiently transport packet and OTN services in a compact, cost-effective form factor.

All new capabilities will be available in the first half of 2017.

http://www.nokia.com

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ADVA Intros Direct Detect Open Optical Layer for DCI

ADVA Optical Networking introduced its direct detect open optical layer for Internet Content Providers and Cloud Network Providers who want to avoid the expense of traditional coherent solutions.

The new solution, which is a key expansion of the ADVA FSP 3000 CloudConnect platform, is available in two distinct formats. It can either be bought as an Open Line System (OLS) in a disaggregated manner or as a complete solution that includes the terminal and the line system.

ADVA Optical Networking said one compelling feature of its OLS is its SmartAmp technology that enables direct detect transmissions to be transported up to 100km. By disaggregating the terminal functions from the line system, customers are able to evolve and optimize each network layer separately. Not only does this lead to significant savings in regards to footprint and power, but it also means that wavelengths can be used with any terminal equipment, such as switch routers or classic transponders.

“Our FSP 3000 CloudConnect™ helped change the DCI market. It transformed people’s expectations. Since its launch, we’ve continually innovated and driven forward our vision for the OLS,” said Christoph Glingener, CTO, COO, ADVA Optical Networking.

http://www.advaoptical.com/

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NeoPhotonics launches 1310nm Lasers for 100G QSFP28

NeoPhotonics has announced general availability of high power 1310 nm lasers and laser arrays qualified for applications in low-cost, non-hermetic packages for 100 Gbit/s silicon photonics-based QSFP28 modules targeting the data centre market.

NeoPhotonics stated that the new lasers and laser arrays are designed to address the need for custom high-power and non-hermetic lasers that provide the light source for silicon photonics-based transceivers providing 100 Gbit/s connectivity within the data centre. The company added that deployment of these transceivers delivered in standard MSA formats such as CWDM4, CLR4 and PSM4, typically in a QSFP28 form factor, is currently underway.

To support the emerging silicon photonics ecosystem, NeoPhotonics has developed and qualified according to the Telcordia GR-468-CORE Issue 2 standard, a range of high power, uncooled lasers and laser arrays for a number of major silicon photonics transceiver manufacturers.

NeoPhotonics' new lasers are designed to provide an efficient, high power light source that leverages a specific implementation of silicon-based high speed analogue and digital electronic devices and photonic components. The high power 1310 nm CW DFB lasers are qualified compliant with Telcordia GR-468-CORE Issue 2, which encompasses criteria including damp heat testing for powered non-hermetic devices. The products are production ready.

NeoPhotonics noted that its lasers are designed with a focus on three key customer requirements: the need for high optical power output, ranging from 40 to 7 0mW, for both NRZ and PAM4 modulation; proven reliability in non-hermetic packages to meet the volume and low cost requirements associated with mega-data centre applications; and custom features to allow the use of automated laser attach and alignment methods to help reduce assembly costs.

Regarding the products, Tim Jenks, chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics, said, "These uncooled, high power non-hermetic CW DFB lasers and laser arrays are a key component for… emerging 100, 200 or 400 Gbit/s silicon photonics-based transceivers for data centre switching applications… the new lasers illustrate the wide ranging applications for NeoPhotonics' advanced hybrid photonic integration technology, efficiently combining high power InP laser technology with partners' silicon photonics modulator technology".

https://www.neophotonics.com/press-releases/?newsId=2254102

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German service provider Exaring deploys ADVA FSP 3000 for 100G

ADVA Optical Networking announced that German digital service provider Exaring has deployed its technology in what is believed to be Germany's first fully integrated platform for the delivery of IP entertainment services.

Based on the ADVA FSP 3000 solution, Exaring's new national backbone network is designed to transmit high-quality, on-demand TV and gaming services to approximately 23 million households across the country. The 100 Gbit/s core transport infrastructure deployed for Exaring, which also features the FSP Network Manager to provide high service availability, has a total of over 12,000 km of fibre. ADVA noted that its long-term partner dacoso designed and installed the network.

Exaring's new 80-channel optical transport system provides high capacity and low latency performance and will be used solely for the transmission of IP entertainment applications, including new technologies such as UHD 8K TV.

ADVA noted that the dedicated, high-capacity DWDM network for on-demand streaming and multi-player gaming will help Exaring to bypass Internet bottlenecks and deliver delay-free services to its customers. The flexible architecture is additionally designed to enable Exaring to quickly integrate and roll-out new services.

In November 2016, ADVA announced today that New England-based fibre communications provider 186 Communications has deployed its FSP 3000 in the northeast U.S. to expand its fibre backbone and address growing demand from broadband providers and enterprise customers.

Last December, ADVA announced that Columbia College Chicago had deployed the FSP 3000 platform for a 100 Gbit/s optical transport network designed to eliminate reliance on managed services and to enable the college to offer e-learning classes. The DWDM network connected the college's ten campus sites and featured low-latency, Layer 1 traffic protection.

http://www.advaoptical.com

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Luxtera Partners with TSMC for Next Gen Silicon Photonics

Luxtera, a global provider of silicon photonics solutions, announced that it has partnered with TSMC for the manufacture of next generation silicon photonics solutions designed for future cloud, mobile infrastructure, enterprise and high-performance computing (HPC) platforms.

Under the agreement, Luxtera and TSMC are developing a new silicon photonics technology platform designed to provide more than double the optical link performance and four times the raw data throughput of competing silicon photonics solution on the market. The new silicon photonics platform will also enable full SoC integration of optical interconnect with the CMOS logic for applications such as network switch, storage or compute.

Luxtera stated that combined with TSMC silicon manufacturing capabilities and scale, its silicon photonic designs can enable optical interconnects that offer significantly higher performance at lower cost and power consumption to address the requirements of future data centres and 5G mobile networks.

Luxtera's latest platform will be used in a suite of next generation silicon photonics solutions to deliver 100 Gbit/s per lane optical interconnects, starting with 100GBase-DR and 400GBase-DR4 transceivers in 2018, and subsequently expanding to include other standards-based solutions for 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 Gbit/s and 1 Tbit/s optical interconnects.

In addition, complementing the new silicon photonics technologies, Luxtera will leverage TSMC's 7 nm CMOS process to deliver high performance with low power across its product portfolio.

http://www.luxtera.com

• In September 2016, Luxtera announced it had shipped more than one million silicon photonics PSM4 transceiver products designed for applications in cloud computing data centres. The Luxtera 100 Gbit/s PSM4 optical transceivers include four independent transmitter and receiver channels integrating phase modulators, photodetectors, waveguides, grating couplers, electrical re-timers and control circuitry, powered by a single integrated laser.

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OE Solutions Unveils 10G CWDM SFP+, 10/25G Transceivers

South Korea-based OE Solutions, a supplier of optical transceivers for communications applications, has announced the release of extended reach 10 Gbit/s CWDM SFP+ transceivers and high-density transceivers, including 2 x 10 Gbit/s compact SFP+, 4 x 10 Gbit/s QSFP+ and 25 Gbit/s SFP28, for wireless fronthaul applications.

CWDM transceivers

OE Solutions' new CWDM SFP+ transceivers which offer support for 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, as well as CPRI-2 to CPRI-8 for wireless network applications, utilise cooled DFB laser diodes combined with wide dynamic range APD detectors and proprietary circuitry to enable reach of up to 20 km for wavelengths up to 1611 nm.

The industrial temperature grade, extended reach transceivers are available for CWDM wavelengths from 1471 up to 1611 nm and complement the company's standard line of DFB-based 10 Gbit/s CWDM transceivers for wavelengths from 1271 to 1451 nm to provide a total of 18 channels.

The company noted that extended reach transceivers with directly modulated DFB lasers offer a cost effective alternative to EMLs for access network applications such as for wireless fronthaul and Ethernet service delivery.

The OE Solutions extended reach 10 Gbit/s CWDM SFP+ transceivers are currently sampling, with volume production scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2017.

New high-density transceivers

The industrial temperature grade high density transceivers are designed to enable high port densities in radio access network equipment to support the roll-out of next generation wireless infrastructures.

OE Solutions noted that in 2017 it is estimated that the number of 10 Gbit/s CPRI ports deployed will increase rapidly and exceed the total of all lower rate ports installed. In addition, the use of 25 Gbit/s transceivers is expected to significantly raise wireless fronthaul capacity over the next 12-18 months. Both of these developments are driving demand for physically denser solutions, which can be cost effectively addressed by increasing the number of wavelengths per transceiver cage and the bit rate per wavelength.

The new high-density transceivers being introduced by OE Solutions are as follows:

1. A 2 x 10 Gbit/s multi-rate (1270 and 1330 nm) bidirectional compact-SFP+ solution for distances up to 20 km.

2. A 4 x 10 Gbit/s multi-rate 850 nm QSFP+ device offering reach of up to 300 metres.

3. A 25 Gbit/s 1310 nm SFP28 solution with multiple rate and protocol options for distances up to 10 km.

The new high-density transceivers are currently sampling, with volume production due to commence in the second quarter of the year.

http://www.oesolutions.com

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Ciena Outlines Liquid Spectrum Vision for Optical Networks

Ciena outlined its "Liquid Spectrum" vision for empowering network operators to tune, control and dynamically adjust optical capacity in an on-demand world.

Liquid Spectrum will encompass a series of next-generation optical and software technologies, including Ciena’s reconfigurable photonic layer, WaveLogic Ai coherent optics, Blue Planet Manage, Control and Plan (MCP), and new advanced software applications. Liquid Spectrum will use APIs and standard interfaces to support operators’ requirements for an accessible, open architecture.  Ciena said its Liquid Spectrum helps ensure the ideal amount of bandwidth is used at any given time.

In its initial introduction, Liquid Spectrum will feature advanced software applications including:

• Performance Meter helps operators proactively ensure optimal system performance by providing access, for the first time, to real-time, accurate planning data for both the existing hardware and new planned services.
• Bandwidth Optimizer uses customer-defined service policies and suggests the ideal capacity, hardware configuration and spectral placement for any channel, across any network path.
• Liquid Restoration increases service availability with flexible adjustment of deployed coherent optical capacity as needed to route affected services across any available path in the network.
• Wave-Line Synchronizer accelerates service provisioning, reduces manual provisioning steps and eliminates associated human errors across multi-vendor optical deployments.

Ciena’s WaveLogic Ai and Blue Planet MCP – two key elements of Liquid Spectrum – will be available in the second quarter of 2017. Liquid Spectrum and its initial software applications are slated for delivery by the end of this year.

“There was a time when network operators could easily predict their network traffic demands and capacity needs at any given time. But we’ve entered a new world with new rules where networks are more complex and mobile and cloud applications can disrupt overnight. With Liquid Spectrum, we are sharing our full vision and blueprint for the way future optical networks should be built to tackle the challenges of the next 10 years and beyond,” stated Steve Alexander, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Ciena.

http://www.ciena.com

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Finisar Introduces 100 GHz Balanced Detector

Finisar, a supplier of subsystems and components for fibre optic communications, has introduced a new product in its family of high-speed photodetectors, the 100 GHz balanced detector (BPDV4121), designed for next generation optical test and measurement equipment.

Finisar claims that the new 100 GHz product is the fastest detector available and enables coherent signal detection and characterisation at rates up to 160 Gbaud.

Designed for next-generation high bit-rate transmission systems, the new photodetector enables accurate measurement, characterisation and verification of performance in real-time. Finisar noted that the increasing baud rates inherent with coherent transmission demand high-frequency optical modulation analysers, sampling scopes and real-time scopes to perform the neessary verification tests.

Finisar's new BPDV4121 detector operates in the C-band and is delivered in a hermetic package equipped with a connector suitable for 100 GHz and-higher RF connections. Additional key features include high responsivity and low polarisation dependent loss (PDL) performance.

The new BPDV4121 product, which will be displayed at OFC 2017, is currently sampling, with general availability scheduled for later in March.

Finisar has also introduced its new WaveAnalyzer 100S compact optical spectrum analyser, designed to enable spectral measurements with advanced optical communication systems in R&D and manufacturing. Finisar's WaveAnalyzer 100S provides two measurements per second across the C-band for optical communications, with a measurement resolution of 1.8 GHz.

The new optical spectrum analyser utilises Finisar's established WaveAnalyzer GUI, which enables analysis functions such as OSNR measurement and WDM analysis, while a programming interface allows integration with automated test systems. The new WaveAnalyzer 100S is due to begin shipping in May 2017.

http://www.finisar.com

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Picometrix to supply 100G Coherent Receivers to Chinese Vendor

Luna Innovations, a developer and supplier of fibre optic sensing and T&M products, announced that its Picometrix division has entered into a vendor managed inventory (VMI) agreement with a major Chinese provider of telecoms equipment and network solutions.

Under the agreement, Picometrix's technology will be more closely integrated into the customer's supply chain and manufacturing processes. As part of the deal, Picometrix will maintain in Hong Kong a dedicated inventory of 100 Gbit/s integrated coherent receivers and other future approved products that the customer will be able to incorporate into its manufacturing operation on a just-in-time basis.

Following the execution of the new VMI agreement, Picometrix has received an order for the supply of coherent receivers for 100 Gbit/s optical transport network equipment. The order is valued at approximately $1.4 million and scheduled to be delivered by June 2017.

Under the agreement, Picometrix expects to supply both its first generation CR-100D product and its next generation, Gen 2, CR-100F coherent receivers. The CR-100F device is the company's latest generation 100 Gbit/s coherent receiver that is compliant with the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) Implementation Agreement (IA) for integrated dual polarisation micro-intradyne coherent receivers (ICRs).

Picometrix noted that the Gen 2 CR-100F product is approximately one-quarter the size of its first generation CR-100D and also offers additional features including signal detect and a variable optical attenuator. The customer will deploy the CR-100F for long-haul and metro applications as an upgrade to support increasing bandwidth demand.

Previously, in October 2016 Luna Innovations announced that Picometrix had received a $2.8 million follow-on order from a leading telecoms company for its 100 Gbit/s ICR for applications in long-haul and metro networks.

http://lunainc.com/hsor

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Inphi Intros 64 Gbaud SMT Driver

Inphi, a supplier of high-speed data transfer interconnects, announced sampling of its IN6417SZ device, claimed to be the first 64 Gbaud quad linear differential to single-ended Mach-Zehnder modulator driver delivered in a 14 x 9 mm SMT package.

The new 64 Gbaud SMT quad linear driver, which follows the companies announcement at ECOC 2016 of 64 Gbaud TIAs, extends Inphi's 64 Gbaud product portfolio that targets next-generation 400/600 Gbit/s coherent, long haul and metro optical interconnect applications.

Inphi noted that with growing demand for bandwidth, service providers and data centre operators are demanding more efficient technologies, such as flexible coherent DWDM transmission, which require components capable of supporting multiple modulation formats and baud rates. The new IN6417SZ product is designed to work with higher order modulation schemes for a range of data rates up to 600 Gbit/s on a single wavelength.

Inphi previously announced sampling of the IN6450TA 64 Gbaud dual channel linear TIA/VGA amplifier at ECOC in September 2016. The device supports data rates up to 600 Gbit/s per wavelength for long haul, metro and data centre interconnect networks using coherent technology.

In November 2016, Inphi announced a definitive agreement to acquire ClariPhy Communications, a provider of ultra-high-speed systems-on-chip (SoCs) for multi-terabit data, long haul and metro networking markets. ClariPhy specifically offered coherent DSP technology for long and short reach DWDM applications.

Inphi noted at the time that the acquired technology would enable it to offer coherent DSP, TIA and drivers for long haul and metro markets, direct-detect PAM DSP-based solutions for DCI edge applications and NRZ and PAM short reach solutions for inside the data centre. In addition, in components it stated that ClariPhy would bring TIA, driver, silicon photonics, coherent DSP, PAM and NRZ physical layer technology.

https://www.inphi.com/

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New QSFP-DD MSA Targets 400G

The Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density (QSFP-DD) Multi Source Agreement (MSA) group has released a specification for the new QSFP-DD form factor, which is a next generation high-density, high-speed pluggable module with a QSFP28 compatible double-density interface. QSFP-DD pluggable modules can quadruple the bandwidth of networking equipment while remaining backwards compatible with existing QSFP form factors used across Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand for 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps network applications.

Specifically, the new QSFP-DD form factor expands the standard QSFP four-lane interface by adding a row of contacts providing for an eight-lane electrical interface, each operating up to 25 Gbps with Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) modulation or 50 Gbps with Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM4). This adaptation allows the QSFP-DD form factor to address solutions up to 400 Gbps aggregate per QSFP-DD port, while providing backward compatibility to 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps. A single switch slot can support up to 36 QSFP-DD modules providing up to 14.4 Tbps aggregate capacity. With an advanced thermal design, the new QSFP-DD solution can support modules up to 12W, providing significant system design flexibility.

In total, 52 companies came together in support of the QSFP-DD MSA to address the industry need for high-density, high-speed networking solutions.

QSFP-DD MSA founder-promoters include Broadcom, Brocade, Cisco, Corning, Finisar, Foxconn Interconnect Technology, Huawei, Intel, Juniper Networks, Lumentum, Luxtera, Mellanox Technologies, Molex, Oclaro, and TE Connectivity.

Contributors include Amphenol, Applied Optoelectronics, APRESIA Systems, Celestica, Ciena, ColorChip, Dell EMC, Delta, Fujitsu Optical Components, Genesis, H3C, Innovium, Inphi, Ixia, Kaiam, LEONI, Lorom, Luxshare, MACOM, MaxLinear, MultiLane, NeoPhotonics, Nokia, Panduit, PHY-SI, Ranovus, Samtec, Senko, Semtech, Sicoya, Siemon, Skorpios Technologies, Source Photonics, Spirent, Sumitomo Electric, Xilinx, and Yamaichi Electronics.

http://www.qsfp-dd.com/

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