OIF targets 400G module, Transport SDN

The Physical and Link Layer Working Group of the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) launched a new project to define a module interface implementation agreement (IA) for 400G long-haul optical transmission. Also at the OIF’s meeting in New Orleans last week, members agreed to address carrier requirements for transport software-defined networking (SDN), and neighbor discovery for Ethernet external network-to-network interfaces (E-NNI).

“There is nothing in the standards market today to use as a starting point to support 400G module solutions,” said Karl Gass of TriQuint Semiconductor and the Physical and Link Layer Working Group - Optical vice chair. “Definition of a 400G long-haul module provides the industry with technology parameters for near-term component development and implementation strategies.”

Meanwhile, the Carrier Working Group members agreed to establish carrier requirements for Transport SDN, detailing transport functions for specific SDN use cases.

“The OIF ecosystem provides carrier members a platform to express their requirements for certain technologies and SDN is certainly one of interest by our carrier members,” said Hans-Martin Foisel of Deutsche Telekom and the OIF Carrier Working Group chair. “Additionally, the OIF has been invited to talk at several industry venues this year on the SDN technology.”

At the meeting, members also approved an IA for RSVP Extensions for User Network Interface (UNI) 2.0 Signaling Specification Release 2. This IA contains RSVP-TE extensions for UNI 2.0 signaling Release 2, updating references and related Ethernet code points.

"OIF standardization efforts helped make the 100G market a great success in the face of broad competition from 40G,” said Andrew Schmitt, optical industry analyst for Infonetics Research, who spoke at the meeting. “And the organization will continue to be an important catalyst for accelerating component availability of future technologies such as 400G, pluggable coherent, or direct-detect 100G."

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