The 100G Lambda Multisource Agreement (MSA) Group has released draft 2.0 of three specifications targeted to support 100-Gbps per wavelength transmission using PAM4 modulation. The draft specifications include 100G-FR and 100G-LR for 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) duplex single-mode fiber links over 2 km and 10 km, respectively, as well as the 400G-FR4 specification for 400GbE duplex single-mode fiber links in a 4x100G wavelength design. The MSA says it has begun work on a 400G-LR4 specification for a 10 km reach at 400GbE as well.
Meanwhile, 12 members of the 100G Lambda MSA Group participated in a private optical interoperability plugfest. The 2.5-day event including testing to validate the compatibility, testability, and optical interoperability among module or test equipment designs for the newly released specifications. MSA member company MultiLane hosted the event, which focused on optical interoperability for 100GbE and 400GbE modules and modules that support 4x100GbE breakout.
“The rapid convergence of stakeholders and technical agreement highlights the strong industry effort and the demand to bring this technology to market as soon as possible,” said Mark Nowell, MSA co-chair.
“The successful testing between so many members involved in the plugfest shows the rapid maturity of the various product and technology developments across the ecosystem,” added Jeffery Maki, the other MSA co-chair.
Members of the 100G Lambda MSA Group include Alibaba, Applied OptoElectronics, Arista, Broadcom, Ciena, Cisco, Color Chip, Credo, Delta, Finisar, Foxconn Interconnect Technologies, Fujitsu Optical Components, HiSense, Huawei, IDT, Inphi, Intel, Juniper Networks, Kaiam, Keysight Technologies, Lumentum, Luxtera, Macom, Maxlinear, Mellanox, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric, MultiLane, Molex, Neophotonics, Nokia, Oclaro, Rockley Photonics, Semtech, Sicoya, Source Photonics, Sumitomo Electric, TE Connectivity, and Tektronix. The MSA launched in September 2017 and issued its first set of specifications this past January (see “100G Lambda MSA targets serial 100-Gbps optical lanes for 100GbE, 400GbE” and “100G Lambda MSA offers preliminary specs based on PAM4 serial 100G”).
The MSA will host module interoperation demonstrations in Booth #123 at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) Exhibition, September 24-26 in Rome, Italy.
For related articles, visit the Optical Technologies Topic Center.
For more information on optical modules and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.