MaxLinear, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations pair for FOTON 400G-DR4 Reference Platform

March 7, 2022

The reference platform combines MaxLinear’s Keystone 5-nm 400G DSP and SEDI’s newest 100G/lane EMLs and photodetectors to enable what the two companies assert is best-in-class performance and power consumption.

Stephen Hardy

MaxLinear, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXL) and Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc. (SEDI) will use OFC 2022 in San Diego this week to demonstrate the jointly developed FOTON 400G-DR4 QSFP-DD reference platform. The reference platform combines MaxLinear’s Keystone 5-nm 400G DSP and SEDI’s newest 100G/lane EMLs and photodetectors to enable what the two companies assert is best-in-class performance and power consumption.

The FOTON reference platform uses the MaxLinear 400G DSP with integrated drivers to directly drive SEDI’s 100G EMLs. As the demand for 400G QSFP-DD optical transceivers grows, the reference platform will streamline module development and provide a proven path to production, the companies say.

"Market projections show the demand for 400G modules will exceed two million units this year, double in 2023 and continue to increase through 2026," commented Drew Guckenberger, vice president of optical interconnect at MaxLinear. "The FOTON 400G reference design provides a proven baseline that allows module partners to quickly ramp 400G products and access this major, growing data center market quickly and effectively."

The FOTON reference design is immediately available for module designers, along with the MaxLinear DSPs and SEDI EMLs and photodetectors. The reference platform will be on display in Booth 1923 March 8-10, 2022.

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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.