Infinera to offer ICE-XR optics coherent pluggable transceivers in 2022

May 20, 2021

The coherent pluggable transceivers will support both its XR optics point-to-multipoint technology and more conventional point-to-point transmission.

Stephen Hardy

Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) says they will offer a family of QSFP-28, QSFP-DD, and CFP2 coherent pluggable transceivers that will support both its XR optics point-to-multipoint technology and more conventional point-to-point transmission beginning next year. The family of devices, dubbed ICE-XR pluggables, will support 100G, 400G, and 800G transmission rates.

The devices will be software programmable to be able to support either point-to-point or point-to-multipoint operation. The latter XR optics configuration enables the transmission capacity of a hub transceiver to be distributed across multiple lower-speed modules at spoke locations (see “Infinera unveils XR optics single-source coherent point-to-multipoint transmission technology”). Infinera has touted the technology as an open initiative with an ecosystem that extends beyond its corporate campus (see, for example, "Infinera reveals II-VI, Lumentum as XR optics partners").

“We have been engaged with 100+ network operators globally and the feedback that we have received has surpassed anything I have seen in my 35+ years of experience in successfully bringing game-changing technologies to market,” said Dave Welch, founder and chief innovation officer at Infinera. “Leveraging the innovative capabilities of XR optics, ICE-XR will enable Infinera to create a completely new market with functionality that is uniquely positioned to address the point-to-multipoint traffic demands at the rapidly growing network edge and provide TCO savings of as much as 70%. Additionally, with Infinera’s deep vertical integration, ICE-XR will enable us to address the rapidly growing market for point-to-point pluggable coherent applications with a differentiated and cost-reduced solution.”

Infinera has announced trials of XR optics with BT, Virgin Media, NBN Co, and American Tower (see “BT models, lab trials Infinera’s XR optics” “Virgin Media tests Infinera’s XR optics on PON infrastructure,” and "NBN Co trials Infinera’s XR optics"). For related articles, visit the Optical Technologies Topic Center.

For more information on optical modules and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.

To stay abreast of fiber network deployments, subscribe to Lightwave’s Service Providers and Datacom/Data Center newsletters.

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.