Polatis unveils 48-fiber single-sided optical switch module

Optical switch specialist Polatis says its 48-fiber Series 6000 Optical Switching Module (OSM), the 48xCC, has reached general availability. The optical switch module is designed to enable network equipment vendors and fiber management system providers to cost-effectively add optical switching to their platforms.

The 48xCC is a fully non-blocking, single-sided all-optical 48-fiber matrix switch designed for "any-to-any" port connectivity. It also enables programmable interconnection architectures that Polatis asserts are impossible with traditional symmetric NxN switch matrices.

The module is the latest variant built on the Series 6000 DirectLight dark fiber optical switch platform. The platform features ultra-low loss and back reflection of typically less than 1 dB and -50 dB, respectively, according to Polatis. The OSM also features a new ASIC-based controller to realize a 41x122x266-mm form factor and power consumption of less than 5 W.

Polatis hopes the 48xCC will find use for OEM integration with network equipment, fiber management systems, and test and measurement tools. For fiber management, the Series 6000 OSM can provide software-controlled optical connectivity among racks within the data center or telco wiring closet.”

Series 6000 optical circuit switches can be deployed in a software-defined network (SDN) under an OpenFlow or NETCONF enabled control plane in data center applications.

For more information on optical switches and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer's Guide.