Oclaro demos 100G single-lambda interoperability; will begin sampling 400G QSFP56-DD FR4 2km transceivers

In booth #123 as part of the plug fest organized by the 100G Single-Lambda Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC 2018) in Rome, Italy (24-26 September), Oclaro Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which provides components, modules and subsystems for optical communications) is demonstrating interoperability of its 100G 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) electro-absorption modulated laser (EML) technology integrated into the 100G QSFP28 form factor of transceiver.

Oclaro also announced that sampling will begin later this year of its new high-density QSFP-DD solution, which uses this same 100G PAM4 EML technology in four lanes to enable an aggregated data rate of 425Gbps.

“The breakthrough demonstration of the 100G single-lambda optical link was made possible through the use of Oclaro’s world-class integrated indium phosphide (InP) 100G PAM4 EML technology,” claims chief strategy officer Yves LeMaitre. “When combined with the latest-generation DSPs [digital signal processors], our high-bandwidth EMLs enable new transceiver designs for 100G per wavelength and 400G,” he adds. “Products such as Oclaro’s QSFP-DD are critical to hyperscale data-center operators to leverage a new generation of switching ASICs and allow for a faster migration to 400G.”

The 400G QSFP56-DD FR4 transceiver significantly reduces system cost per port by enabling 36 ports of 400G per 1RU compared with only 18 ports of 400G with CFP8 (first-generation 400G modules). To ensure interoperability, Oclaro has been actively involved in the 100G Lambda MSA and QSFP-DD MSA. In August, Oclaro interfaced the transceiver's mechanical housing with leading QSFP-DD connector and cage vendors at the QSFP-DD MSA mechanical plug fest. Earlier this September, Oclaro also participated with its 100G QSFP28-FR and 400G QSFP-DD FR4 transceivers in an interoperability test organized by the 100G Lambda MSA.

Enabled by Oclaro’s 100G EMLs, the new 400G QSFP56-DD FR4 transceiver represents a new generation of optical transceiver solutions for hyper-scale datacenter applications. Key features include:

400 Gigabit Ethernet (400GbE) transceiver operating at a data rate of 425Gbps;
compliant to the 400G-FR4 optical interface specification of the 100G Lambda MSA and the 400GAUI-8 electrical interface specification of the IEEE;
transmission distance up to 2km (supporting 95% of links inside data centers);
compliant to QSFP-DD MSA hardware specification;
optical transmitter with 4 EMLs in the 1.3μm wavelength band aligned to the CWDM grid;
optical receiver with 4-channel PIN photodetector;
low power consumption of 12W (key to lowering operating expense);
operating case temperature of 0-70°C; and
hot Z-pluggable to 76-pad QSFP-DD electrical connector so that transceivers can be installed or removed without affecting the rest of the network (enabling a ‘pay as you grow’ model for 400G capacity increases).

The 100G PAM4 EMLs are fully qualified and in volume production. Oclaro will begin shipping initial samples of the 400G QSFP56-DD FR4 in fourth-quarter 2018, with volume production planned for second-quarter 2019.

See related items:

Oclaro showcasing portfolio of high-speed lasers for access and wireless networks at ECOC

Tags: Oclaro Optical communications

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