Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR) is showcasing its CFP2-DCO optical transceiver in a private meeting room this week at ECOC 2018 in Rome. The demonstration follows the announcement earlier this year that Oclaro would become a second source for the coherent CFP2-DCO Acacia Communications has developed (see “Acacia Communications 100G/200G CFP2-DCO, 100G CFP-DCO for ZR applications now generally available” and “Acacia, Oclaro join for CFP2-DCO optical transceivers”). Oclaro says it has successfully demonstrated interoperability between its CFP2-DCO and the Acacia version via joint testing in Oclaro’s labs.
The CFP2-DCO differs from the more widely available CFP2-ACO coherent transceiver in that it integrates the coherent DSP ASIC/ASSP – in this case, Acacia’s Meru silicon – inside the module. Oclaro was first to market with the CFP2-ACO, and the company confirmed that the device “remains a critical, flagship product for Oclaro” as part of its ECOC CFP2-DCO announcement. Acacia, meanwhile, was both first and, so far, only to market with the CFP2-DCO, although other companies say they have such a module under development. Oclaro asserts its version of the module should reach production early next year. Like the ACO, the CFP2-DCO will operate at both 100 and 200 Gbps.
"Customers are looking for a plug-and-play digital solution leveraging the recognized performance of Oclaro's Indium Phosphide PICs," said Beck Mason, president of the Integrated Photonics Business at Oclaro. "By delivering its first CFP2-DCO, based on Acacia's Meru DSP, Oclaro expands its addressable market while leveraging the proven value-add of its ACO platform. This live demonstration represents a significant milestone in the industry because it highlights the availability of two fully interoperable supply sources for these critical components, which will help encourage broader adoption by network operators."
As Beck mentions, Oclaro hopes to win CFP2-DCO slots on the basis of the company’s InP-based photonic integrated circuit (PIC) expertise, in the form of a 43-Gbaud Coherent Transmitter Receiver Optical Sub-Assembly (TROSA) that leverages its CFP2-ACO work.
Oclaro is in the process of being acquired by Lumentum, a deal announced this past March (see “Lumentum agrees to buy Oclaro for $1.8 billion”).
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