24 March 2016

MACOM launches first 64Gbaud linear modulator driver for 400G and beyond

At the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition (OFC 2016) in Anaheim, CA, USA (22-24 March), M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc of Lowell, MA, USA (which makes semiconductors, components and subassemblies for analog RF, microwave, millimeter-wave and photonic applications) has launched what is claimed to be the industry's first 64 Gbaud quad-channel linear Mach-Zehnder modulator driver. The MAOM-006428 will support data rates of 400Gbps and beyond on a single wavelength for long-haul communications using coherent technology.

By increasing the data rate on a single wavelength, operators can increase capacity and reduce the overall cost-per-bit of transmission. Metro networks can use higher-order modulation formats at 32Gbaud to achieve this, but these higher-order modulation formats such as 32 and 64 QAM have very limited reach due to signal-to-noise requirements. Long-haul networks therefore require the use of higher baud rates up to 64G to achieve data rates of 400G on a single wavelength.

The MAOM-006428 modulator driver features surface-mount inputs and G3PO outputs to mate with the next-generation high-bandwidth modulator which is currently being standardized by the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF). The device has linear performance to support higher-order modulation formats with low power consumption and a compact form factor taking up <275mm2 of PCB real estate.

"The MAOM-006428, in addition to being the industry's first 64 Gbaud linear modulator driver, provides customers with a revolutionary package design that delivers the high performance required by 64Gbaud in a cost-effective form factor," believes Ray Moroney, direct of product marketing for High-Performance Analog at MACOM.

Tags: M/A-COM

Visit: www.ofcconference.org

Visit: www.macom.com/opto-1