10X10 MSA ratifies 100-Gbps module specification

Fulfilling a promise it made last December (see “Google joins tech vendors in 10x10G 100 Gbps optical transceiver multi-source agreement”), the companies that compose the 10X10 Multisource Agreement (MSA) have announced the public availability of their ratified module specification for 100-Gbps devices. The specification will be used as a blueprint for the development of multi-sourced, low-cost modules for such applications as 100-Gigabit Ethernet and OTU4.

The 10X10 specification calls for the directly mapping of 10 electrical lanes at 10 Gbps onto 10 lasers. The first modules built to the specification will be intended for 2-km reach over singlemode fiber. The MSA members say they are now turning their attention to supporting 10-km applications, as well as developing a higher-density form factor.

The 10x10 MSA is the result of calls by some potential users – most vocally, Google – to create a module that would support 2-km singlemode 100-Gigabit Ethernet applications more cheaply than the IEEE’s 100GBase-LR4 PMD. That specification calls for four lanes of 25-Gbps and four lasers. Original founding members included Google, Brocade, JDSU, and Santur Corp. The MSA now numbers 18 members, with Huawei, Facebook, BTI Systems, AMS-IX, MRV, EXFO, Enablence, Cyoptics, AFOP, Oplink, Hitachi Cable America, Kotura, Effdon, and Cortina Systems among the newcomers.

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