Lumentum Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LITE) has announced the creation of the SmartTuning Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) group. II-VI (NASDAQ: IIVI) is a founding member as well. The MSA will seek to standardize an interoperable self-tuning feature for full C-Band tunable DWDM pluggable optical transceivers.
The self-tuning feature, which some optical communications technology vendors already offer, enables a tunable optical transceiver to determine, once it’s plugged in, the wavelength at which it should transmit and receive.
The feature simplifies link turnup and eliminates the need for labeling or tracking fibers. Lumentum says that self-tuning will be quite useful in the support 5G and other next-generation mobile networks.
The MSA will develop a set of common specifications that will enable interoperability among the optical modules of multiple vendors.
"With the SmartTuning MSA, 5G mobile service providers will be able to better optimize their network architectures with easy-to-integrate, cost-effective, and automated optical networking solutions," said Justin Abbott, Lumentum’s director of product line management, telecom transmission.
Abbott continued, "This development should also accelerate the expansion of 5G network infrastructure by enabling more network automation, which results in less technician time in the field and lower ongoing network operating costs."
“The algorithms developed by the SmartTunable MSA will improve opex and capex for our end users by simplifying the deployment of their systems, reducing technician time in the field, and eliminating the need for tuning equipment,” added Dr. Lee Xu, senior vice president, Transceivers Business Unit at II-VI.
He concluded, “Our customers will greatly appreciate the efficiency and streamlined operations achieved through this standardization effort, as they ramp up DWDM system deployments to support high-speed wireline and 5G wireless broadband services.”
More information is available on the MSA's website.
