Hot for 2021: Coherent pluggable transceivers, says Cignal AI
Cignal AI states that coherent pluggable optical transceivers are set to reshape the market. Adoption will accelerate in 2021 and accelerate through 2024, the market research firm says in its latest Transport Applications Report.
While adoption of 400ZR optics will be strong, Cignal AI expects there to be significant interest as well in 400ZR+ and devices at lower transmission rates thanks to upcoming 100ZR pluggables for the metro edge. 400ZR, 400ZR+, and 100ZR will be responsible for approximately 33% of metro and long-haul connections by 2024, the analysis firm predicts in its new report.
“Standardized pluggable coherent optics, coupled with open line systems and network control, will represent a major change in network design,” said Andrew Schmitt, directing analyst for Cignal AI. “This shift will begin in earnest in 2022.”
While demand from hyperscale data center operators provided the original catalyst for 400ZR development, transceiver vendors also have eyed offshoots of the technology to address the needs of a wider market, including incumbent, wholesale, and cable MSO operators. The appeal of plugging optics directly into router, switch, and other systems will decrease the need for some optical transport technology, Cignal AI notes. However, opportunities in metro-edge connections for enterprises and 5G offer a large near-term opportunity.
The new Transport Applications Report also provides analysis of second quarter 2020 market performance. Among the findings, worldwide shipments of 400-Gbps coherent optics doubled sequentially. Such technology now represents Ciena’s top product. Other vendors such as Infinera and Cisco have yet to see large volumes from their similar offerings. Meanwhile, shipments of traditional 100G coherent shrank during the quarter, thanks in large part to the shift Chinese vendors continue to make to 200G in proprietary pluggable and non-pluggable formats.
Sales of compact modular systems accelerated much faster than the overall market in the second quarter as disaggregation more applications besides cloud and colocation move in this direction. Finally, packet-OTN sales grew outside of North America, led by the Asia-Pacific region, which accounted for more than 60% of total worldwide sales during the quarter.
The Cignal AI Transport Applications Report includes market share and forecasts for revenue and port shipments for optical equipment designed to meet specific applications; coherent optical technology and compact modular and advanced packet-OTN switching hardware.
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About the Author
Stephen Hardy
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.