Prysmian, Berk-Tek report 40-Gbps wideband multimode fiber test results
Prysmian Group and Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company, say they have collaborated to demonstrate the transmission of 40 Gbps over 300 m of four-wavelength wideband multimode fiber (WBMMF).
The demonstration used Prysmian's WideCap-OM4 multimode fiber (see "Prysmian WideCap-OM4 multimode fiber supports multi-wavelength applications") and what the participants described as "commercial WDM transceivers" that transmitted at 4x10 Gbps. The duo did not reveal who supplied the 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ optical transceivers, but a member of the newly announced SWDM Alliance, which includes Finisar and Lumentum, would appear to be a good bet.
The demonstration saw the Prysmian WideCap-OM4 multimode fiber, packaged within Berk-Tek duplex fiber cable configured in a two-connector channel, transmit traffic generated and verified via an Ixia XM2 chassis outfitted with Xcellon-Lava Dual-Speed, 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet Higher Speed Ethernet Load Modules. The combination demonstrated error-free transmission over 300 m, the collaborators say.
In addition to supporting four-wavelength transmission, the WideCap-OM4 fiber is compatible with conventional OM4 multimode fiber. The companies say the trial therefore sets the stage for data center managers to use WBMMF to help ensure a smooth evolution from 10 Gigabit Ethernet to 100 Gigabit Ethernet operation, this last based on 4x25-Gbps transmission.
WBMMF also is expected to streamline 400 Gigabit Ethernet support by reducing the number of parallel multimode fibers required. The 400 Gigabit Ethernet Task Force has tentatively adopted a 16-fiber approach for 100-m multimode links. Since send and receive would require 16 fibers each, a complete connection would demand 32 conventional multimode fibers.
Berk-Tek and Prysmian will present the results of the demonstration in a paper at the Photonics in Switching 2015 technical conference in Florence, Italy, on September 25, 2015.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy has covered fiber optics for more than 15 years, and communications and technology for more than 30 years. He is responsible for establishing and executing Lightwave's editorial strategy across its digital magazine, website, newsletters, research and other information products. He has won multiple awards for his writing.
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